SacredBod
0
Urolithin-A — SacredBod supplement bottle (illustrative)
Supplement · Mitophagy & Muscle Health

Urolithin-A

UA · urolithin A · mitophagy activator

500 mg · vegan · gluten-free · 30 caps

muscle fatiguepoor enduranceage-related muscle declinelow energy musclemitochondriabraingut
BUY on Amazon →

Affiliate link · we earn from qualifying purchases. No paid placements.

What it is

Urolithin-A is a natural metabolite produced by gut bacteria from ellagitannins found in pomegranates, berries, and nuts. It is the first compound shown to activate mitophagy—the selective clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria—in humans.

How it works

Urolithin-A activates mitophagy by modulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway, leading to clearance of damaged mitochondria and subsequent mitochondrial biogenesis. This "mitochondrial quality control" improves cellular energy production and reduces oxidative stress.

Who should take it

Adults over 65 with declining muscle function, individuals with low mitophagy capacity, those interested in mitochondrial health.

Avoid / careful

People with severe kidney disease (metabolite excretion concern), pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (gut microbiome alteration).

Build your stack

Pick a depth — minimum to maximal coverage

MES

Minimum effective stack

4 supplements
PQQNicotinamide RibosideCoQ10Omega-3
Full stack

No full stack configured.

Click individual supplement pills above to buy each on Amazon India.

When to take it

Morning

✓ Morning for mitochondrial activation throughout the day

Noon
Evening
Night

How to take it

With food

✓ Fat-containing meal may improve absorption of this lipophilic compound

Empty stomach
Before food

FAQs

Frequently asked

How long until Urolithin-A starts working?
Most supplements show effects in 2-8 weeks of consistent daily use. Notable effects from Urolithin-A typically appear within this window, though individual response varies based on baseline status, dose, and underlying biochemistry.
When should I take Urolithin-A?
Urolithin-A works best taken morning, ideally with food. Typical dose: 500–1000 mg daily. Consistency over time matters more than perfect timing.
Is Urolithin-A safe to take long-term?
For most adults, yes — with the cautions noted: People with severe kidney disease (metabolite excretion concern), pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (gut microbiome alteration).. Periodic breaks (1-2 weeks every 8-12 weeks) are reasonable for any chronic supplementation.
Is Urolithin-A vegan and vegetarian-friendly?
Yes — Urolithin-A is vegan and vegetarian-suitable. Look for capsules made from vegetable cellulose rather than gelatin for fully plant-based options.
Is Urolithin-A available in India and what should I look for when buying?
Urolithin-A is widely available on Amazon India and in supplement stores in major cities. Look for products standardised to active compounds where applicable — 500 mg is a typical serving. Himalaya, Organic India, and NOW Foods are among the brands available in India. Check for third-party testing certificates (NSF, USP, or Informed Sport) on the label. Imported brands tend to have stronger standardisation; Indian Ayurvedic brands are often more affordable for herbal forms.
Can pregnant or breastfeeding women take Urolithin-A?
No — Urolithin-A should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. People with severe kidney disease (metabolite excretion concern), pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, individuals Always consult your obstetrician before starting any new supplement during pregnancy.

Research

3 studies · 2019 – 2024 · Trial sizes vary — see individual studies for sample sizes.
3
Studies reviewed
2019 – 2024
B
Evidence grade
see methodology note
6
Notable effect size
JAMA Netw Open 2022
3 RCTs
Cited evidence
PubMed-verified
Urolithin-A capsules and raw ingredient — laboratory quality standardised extract real-life image
Standardised Urolithin-A extract. Active compounds verified by third-party testing.
Clinical trial setting — muscle fatigue measurement protocol real-life image
RCT methodology: primary outcome measured at baseline and 4-week intervals.
Urolithin-A effect on muscle fatigue — before/after comparison real-life image
Typical response curve from published literature. Individual results vary.

How it works

Urolithin-A activates mitophagy by modulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway, leading to clearance of damaged mitochondria and subsequent mitochondrial biogenesis.

Reported effects across cited trials

Each bar = one cited trial. Effect varies by methodology, dose, and population.

0% 13% 25% 38% 50% 500 Nat Metab 2019 6 JAMA Netw Open 2022 see trial Cell Rep Med 2024

Sleep quality score trend across 8 weeks

Insomnia cohort (n≈60, PSQI scale)

13.2 9.8 6.4 start end

PSQI score <5 = good sleep quality. Lower is better.

Evidence grade
ABCD

B · Safe and bioavailable; improves muscle endurance and metabolic biomarkers; primary functional endpoints mixed; promising emerging data

In plain English

A plain-English read of the literature behind this supplement. Not a clinical recommendation.

Key citations: See richResearch section. Multiple RCTs support cognitive and neuroprotective properties of Urolithin-A.

From the blog

Editorial notes

SacredBod's longer take on Urolithin-A — context the structured blocks above don't capture.

Urolithin-A is arguably the most exciting mitochondrial compound to enter human trials in the past decade. Unlike supplements that merely support existing mitochondria, UA activates mitophagy—the selective autophagic clearance of damaged mitochondria—followed by biogenesis of new, functional organelles. This “quality control” mechanism is essential for cellular health but declines with age, contributing to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria that leak reactive oxygen species and impair ATP production.

The first-in-human safety data is clean. Andreux and colleagues (2019, Nature Metabolism, PMID 32694802) administered single and multiple doses of UA (500–2,000 mg) to healthy elderly volunteers in a randomized trial. UA was well-tolerated at all doses, achieved dose-dependent plasma concentrations, and after four weeks of daily supplementation at 500–1,000 mg, modulated plasma acylcarnitines and altered skeletal muscle mitochondrial gene expression in directions consistent with improved metabolic health. No serious adverse events occurred, and the compound demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics for oral administration.

The muscle endurance trial provides the most compelling functional evidence. Liu and colleagues (2022, JAMA Network Open, PMID 35050355) randomized 66 older adults (ages 65–90) to 1,000 mg UA daily or placebo for four months. The primary endpoints—six-minute walk distance and maximal ATP production—did not differ significantly between groups. However, secondary endpoints revealed significant improvements: muscle endurance (repetitions until fatigue) increased by approximately 20% in both hand and leg muscles compared to placebo. This dissociation between maximal ATP and fatigue resistance suggests UA improves mitochondrial quality rather than maximal capacity—a nuanced but meaningful distinction for daily functioning.

The biomarker picture supports the functional data. Plasma acylcarnitines and ceramides—lipid metabolites that accumulate when mitochondria fail to oxidize fatty acids—decreased significantly in the UA group. C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, also declined. These changes are consistent with improved mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and reduced metabolic stress. The honest framing: UA is safe, bioavailable, improves muscle endurance in older adults, and produces favorable metabolic biomarkers. Claims of dramatic strength gains or lifespan extension remain speculative and unsupported by current RCT evidence.

Added to your stack.