Reviewing Evidence for Urolithin A Supplementation

Mitochondria are the power plants of the cell, responsible for generating chemical energy store molecules to power cell processes. Urolithin A is one of a number of supplements shown to improve mitochondrial function, though as for the others it isn't all that impressive when compared to the effects of regular exercise. Nonetheless, this and other approaches to modestly attenuate age-related declines in mitochondrial function are under active development. They are not solutions to the problem of mitochondrial aging, however. For that we must look to more radical approaches to therapy, such as mitochondrial transplantation, allotopic expression of mitochondrial DNA in the cell nucleus, and partial reprogramming to reset expression of genes essential to mitochondrial function. The aging of an organism is hallmarked by systemic loss of functional tissue, resulting in increased fragility and eventual development of age-related neurodegenerative, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neoplastic diseases. Growing scientific evidence points to mitochondrial dysfunction as a key contributor in the aging process and subsequent development of age-related pathologies. Under normal physiologic conditions, the body removes dysfunctional mitochondria via an autophagic process known as mitophagy. Urolithin A (UA), a metabolite produced when gut microflora digests the polyphenol compounds ellagitannin and ellagic acid, is a known inducer of mitophagy via several identified mechanisms...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs