With the global life expectancy gradually increasing, anti-aging has become a crucial topic. Recently, Urolithin A (UA), a previously little-known term, has gradually come into the public eye. It is a special substance metabolized from intestinal microorganisms and is closely related to health. In this article, we will unveil the mystery of this miraculous natural substance, Urolithin A for you.
What is Urolithin A?
The history of Urolithin A dates back to 2005, when a team of researchers led by Prof. Cerdá first discovered its existence and revealed its many potential benefits. Urolithin A (UA) is a metabolite of intestinal microorganisms and is not directly supplemented through dietary channels. However, its precursor ellagitannins are abundant in various fruits such as pomegranates and strawberries.
Urolithin A Role
On March 25, 2016, a weighty study in the journal Nature Medicine brought the audience’s attention to its association with slowing human aging. Since its discovery in 2016 that it effectively extends the lifespan of Cryptorhabditis elegans, UA’s anti-aging efficacy has been strongly demonstrated at all levels (hematopoietic stem cells, skin tissues, brain (organs), immune system, individual lifespan), and in all species (Cryptorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, mice, humans).
1, Anti-Aging and Enhanced Muscle Function
JAMA Network Open, a sub-journal of the Journal of the American Medical Association, published a randomized clinical trial showing that UA supplements may be helpful in improving muscle health for people who are elderly or have difficulty moving around due to illness and performing needed exercise.
2, Adjuvant enhancement of immunotherapy against tumors.
In 2022, Florian R. Greten’s research team from the Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapeutics in Germany, found that UA can induce mitochondrial autophagy in T cells to promote PGAM5 release, activate the Wnt signaling pathway, and promote the formation of T-memory stem cells, thus promoting anti-tumor immunity.
3, Reversal of Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Immune System Decline
In the 2023 study, the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, investigated the effects on the hematopoietic system by allowing 18-month-old mice to consume a diet rich in urolithin A for four months and monitoring their blood cell changes monthly. The results showed that the UA diet led to an increase in the number of hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid progenitor cells and a decrease in red lineage progenitor cells. This finding suggests that this diet can reverse some of the changes in the hematopoietic system associated with aging.
4, Anti-inflammatory effects
The anti-inflammatory activity of UA is much more potent, significantly inhibiting a variety of typical inflammatory factors such as TNF-α , and it is for this reason that UA plays a role in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory conditions including brain, fat, heart, intestinal, and liver tissues, and can alleviate the inflammation of various tissues.
5, Neuroprotection
Some scholars have confirmed that UA can inhibit the mitochondria-related apoptosis pathway and regulate the p-38 MAPK signaling pathway, thus inhibiting oxidative stress-induced apoptosis . For example, UA can increase the survival rate of neurons stimulated by oxidative stress, which has a good neuroprotective function.
6, Lipid effects
UA can affect cellular lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. Studies have shown that UA can induce brown fat activation, as well as white fat browning, while preventing diet-induced fat accumulation.
7, Improvement of obesity
UA can also reduce the accumulation of fat in adipocytes and hepatocytes cultured in vitro and increase fat oxidation. It converts the weakly active T4 in thyroxine into the more active T3, which enhances the metabolic rate and heat production through thyroxine signaling, thus exerting a role in controlling obesity.
8, Eye protection
On January 27, 2024, Nautre Communications published an article titled “Mitophagy curtails cytosolic mtDNA dependent activation of cGAS/STING inflammation during aging”. during aging”. The mitochondrial autophagy inducer UA reduces oxidative stress in the aging retina; it decreases cytoplasmic cGAS levels and reduces glial cell activation in the aged retina.
9, Skin Care
Of all the mammalian intestinal metabolites identified, UA has the strongest antioxidant activity, second only to proanthocyanidin oligomers, catechins, epicatechins, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid.
Urolithin A Regulations
Already in 2018 UA was designated by the FDA as a “Generally Recognized as Safe” edible substance to be added to protein shakes, meal replacement drinks, instant oatmeal, nutritious protein bars and milk beverages (up to 500 mg/serving), Greek yogurt, high-protein yogurt and milk protein shakes (up to 1,000 mg/serving).
Disclaimer: The above text is derived from scientific research literature and the Internet, has not been evaluated by national authorities, and is intended only for popularization of science. The article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If there is any infringement or cause certain misunderstanding, please contact me for deletion, thank you.