Intervention
Urolithin A
Last updated Sun May 17 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
What it is
Urolithin A is produced when gut bacteria metabolise ellagitannins from pomegranate, walnuts, and certain berries. About 30–40% of people host the microbial taxa needed to produce useful amounts endogenously; the rest benefit more from direct supplementation.
Why it’s of interest
Urolithin A is the best-evidenced supplement for inducing mitophagy in humans. Andreux et al. (2019) showed that 500–1000 mg/day for 4 weeks shifted gene-expression markers toward improved mitochondrial function in older adults; subsequent trials (Liu et al. 2022) reported improvements in muscle endurance and 6-minute-walk performance.
Mechanism
Activates the PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway, leading to selective removal of damaged mitochondria and improved mitochondrial network quality.
Practical use
- Branded supplement (Mitopure / urolithin A) delivers a standardised dose.
- Typical dosing: 500–1000 mg/day.
- Well tolerated in trials up to 6 months.
- Effects on hard clinical endpoints (mortality, frailty progression) are not yet established.
Related entries
References
- Andreux, P. A. et al. The mitophagy activator urolithin A is safe and induces a molecular signature of improved mitochondrial and cellular health in humans. Nat. Metab. 1, 595–603 (2019).