
via EPFL
Urolithin A, a metabolite of biomolecules found in pomegranates and other fruits, could help slow certain aging processes.
EPFL spin-off Amazentis, in conjunction with EPFL and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, has published a paper in the journal Nature Metabolism outlining the results of their clinical trial.
It is a fact of life that skeletal muscles begin to lose strength and mass once a person reaches the age of 50. A recent clinical trial involving two EPFL entities – spin-off Amazentis and the Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology (LISP) – showed that urolithin A, a compound derived from biomolecules found in fruits such as pomegranates, could slow down this process by improving the functioning of mitochondria – the cells’ powerhouses. A joint paper presenting the results of the trial, published today in Nature Metabolism, also demonstrates that ingesting the compound poses no risk to human health.
Slowing mitochondrial aging
The claim that healthy eating is the key to longer life might seem too convenient – but it is now further backed by scientific evidence. Pomegranate, a fruit prized by many civilizations for its health benefits, contains ellagitannins. When ingested, these molecules are converted into a compound called urolithin A (UA) in the human gut. The researchers found that UA can slow down the mitochondrial aging process. The catch is that not everyone produces UA naturally.
To get around that problem, and to make sure all participants received an equal dose, the team synthesized the compound. Some 60 elderly people, all sedentary yet in good health, took a single dose of between 250 and 2,000 mg of UA. The researchers observed no side effects when compared with the control group, who were given a placebo. The participants were then split into four groups, each receiving a placebo, or a 250, 500 or 1,000 mg daily dose of UA for 28 days. Again, no adverse health impacts were found, even after prolonged ingestion. The team then assessed the efficacy of UA by looking at cellular and mitochondrial health biomarkers in the participants’ blood and muscle tissue. The results were compelling: UA stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis – the process by which cells increase mitochondrial mass – in the same way as regular exercise.
UA is the only known compound that re-establishes cells’ ability to recycle defective mitochondria. In young people, this process happens naturally. But as we age, our body starts to lose its power to clean up dysfunctional mitochondria, causing sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass) and the weakening of other tissues. The team focused on slowing, or even reversing, this natural effect of aging.
The paper, published today, also confirms that the compound is safe to eat. Amazentis, based at EPFL’s Innovation Park, hopes to harness the promising results to quickly bring the product to market. “These latest findings, which build on previous preclinical trials, really crystallize how UA could be a game-changer for human health,” says Johan Auwerx, a professor at LISP, the EPFL lab involved in the trial. An article published in 2016 showed that the lifespan of nematode worms exposed to UA increased by 45% – from around 20 to 30 days – when compared with the control group. Likewise, older mice showed 40% better endurance while running after two weeks of treatment. The compound may thus have even more secrets to reveal about its benefits for human health.
Learn more: Compound with anti-aging effects passes human trial
The Latest on: Urolithin A
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Urolithin A” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Urolithin A
- How To Choose A Financial Advisoron June 1, 2023 at 7:22 am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Are you seeking assistance with your financial management ...
- The 5 Best Supplements To Fight Dementia and Preserve Your Brain, From a Doctor of Regenerative Medicineon May 19, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Over 40? Here Are 9 Clever Memory Exercises to Start Doing Today Urolithin A is a natural compound that is produced in the gut after you consume certain foods. Urolithin can improve brain health ...
- How to Choose a Financial Advisoron May 15, 2023 at 4:41 pm
There is a financial advisor for every budget and financial situation. Here's a look at the types of financial advisors, and how to choose the right advisor for you. Many or all of the products ...
- Want To Look Younger? This Is What You Should Be Eatingon May 8, 2023 at 5:09 pm
A human pilot study found that a compound called urolithin A in pomegranates slowed muscle loss and improved mitochondrial function (the ability of cells to produce energy), which might translate ...
- The potential anti-cancer and antioxidant properties of walnutson April 25, 2023 at 5:57 am
The review also reported the results from human studies that found improvements in other parameters such as gut microbiome diversity and abundance, urolithin levels, and reductions in cholesterol ...
- Mitochondria as a therapeutic target for common pathologieson December 23, 2022 at 8:16 am
Although the development of mitochondrial therapies has largely focused on diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA or in nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins, it has been found ...
- Researchers Draw New Connections Between Aging and Mitochondrial Healthon October 25, 2021 at 2:00 pm
Of the many ways to address individual aging, a compound called urolithin-A has sparked interest from a number of researchers. For more than a decade, scientists at the life science company ...
- What Is a Budget?on May 12, 2021 at 11:34 am
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does ...
- Postbiotics: an emerging option for gut healthon March 9, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Their product is used as a raw ingredient of some supplements. But unlike equol, producing urolithin A involves a complex chain of chemical reactions involving a multitude of intermediates.
- Chromebook buyer's guide: What is a Chromebook, what can and can't it do?on August 14, 2020 at 5:37 am
The need for a traditional computer is no longer dire. Phones and tablets are often more than sufficient for casual users. Chrome OS computers provide bigger screens and a proper keyboard, while ...
via Bing News