Can Urolithin A improve muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in middle-aged adults?
Urolithin A, a randomized controlled trial — urolithin A intake led to significant improvements in muscle strength (approximately 12%). However, there was no significant improvement in peak power output. Follow-up ran 4 months. Source: Cell Rep Med 2022, PMID 35584623.
Source: Cell Rep Med 2022, PMID 35584623 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
Cell Rep Med · 2022 · PMID 35584623 · DOI 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100633
Urolithin A supplementation improved muscle strength and exercise performance in middle-aged adults, along with markers of mitochondrial health.
The question
Can Urolithin A improve muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in middle-aged adults?
What they tested
Targeting mitophagy to activate the recycling of faulty mitochondria during aging with Urolithin A will mitigate muscle decline.
How they did it
This was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial where middle-aged adults received either Urolithin A (Mitopure) at two different doses or a placebo for 4 months. The study assessed muscle strength, aerobic endurance (peak oxygen consumption), physical performance (6-minute walk test), peak power output, plasma acylcarnitines, C-reactive proteins, and expression of proteins linked to mitophagy and mitochondrial metabolism in skeletal muscle.
What they found
Urolithin A intake led to significant improvements in muscle strength (approximately 12%). Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in aerobic endurance (peak oxygen consumption) and physical performance (6-minute walk test). However, there was no significant improvement in peak power output. Plasma acylcarnitines and C-reactive proteins were significantly lower with Urolithin A, and there was a significant increase in the expression of proteins linked to mitophagy and mitochondrial metabolism in skeletal muscle.
What it means
Urolithin A improves muscle performance, muscle strength, aerobic endurance, and physical performance, and positively impacts biomarkers of mitochondrial health and inflammation in middle-aged adults.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Urolithin A improves muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in a randomized trial in middle-aged adults. |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cell Rep Med |
| Year | 2022 |
| PMID | 35584623 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100633 ↗ |
| Topic | NAD⁺, sirtuins & cellular energy |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Urolithin A (Mitopure)
In human research, urolithin A supplementation is safe and bioavailable and improves markers of mitochondrial health. Randomized trials report better muscle endurance in adults 65-90, roughly 12% strength gains with improved aerobic endurance in middle-aged adults, lower inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein…
Pomegranate Ellagitannin Extract
In human research, the ellagitannin-derived metabolite urolithin A has improved muscle strength, endurance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial function and inflammation in randomized trials of middle-aged and older adults, and a small 2025 trial found more youthful immune-cell profiles after four weeks, although several…
Urolithin A is a natural compound produced by gut bacteria from ellagitannins and ellagic acid, dietary…
Pomegranate ellagitannin extract is a concentrated source of ellagitannins (such as punicalagins) and…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Can Urolithin A improve muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in middle-aged adults? [Plain-English summary of Cell Rep Med 2022, PMID 35584623, DOI 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100633]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s102.html@misc{magellan_s102,
title = {Can Urolithin A improve muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in middle-aged adults?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s102.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 35584623; DOI 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100633; Cell Rep Med 2022. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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