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In recent years, studies have discovered various substances of natural origin that can improve general health.
One of these substances that has received a lot of interest is urolithin A, which comes from certain foods, can provide a variety of health benefits that we will talk about in this article.
Urolitin A is an active substance produced by bacteria in our gut from substances called ellagitannins found in foods such as pomegranates, berries, and nuts.
When we eat these foods, the algitannins undergo a process of fermentation by the intestinal bacteria, and this leads to the production of urolithin A. When this substance is absorbed from the intestine into our bloodstream, it leads to a variety of beneficial processes in our bodies.
What are the health benefits of urolithin A?
Recent studies have found a variety of health benefits associated with urolithin A:
1. Improvement of mitochondrial function in our body.
Mitochondria serve as the powerhouse in our body's cells, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to a variety of diseases.
Urolitin A can lead to improved mitochondrial function by increasing the process of removing damaged mitochondria from the body's cells.
This process leads to optimal production of cellular energy and generally improves the health of body cells.
2. Anti-inflammatory properties.
A process of chronic inflammation in the body is at the root of many chronic diseases.
Urolitin A has an anti-inflammatory effect in that it can suppress several inflammatory pathways in the body.
By reducing the chronic inflammation process, urolithin A can help prevent and treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's).
3. Improving muscle health and physical performance capabilities.
Urolitin A has beneficial effects on muscle health and physical performance.
It encourages the proliferation of muscle cells and increases the production of new mitochondria, and this leads to an increase in muscle strength, an increase in physical endurance, and a general improvement in physical abilities.
This can be particularly effective for athletes looking to improve their performance.
4. Protection of the nervous system.
In recent years there have been many studies pointing to the connection between gut health and brain health.
Urolitin A has a protective effect on nerve cells by reducing the accumulation of harmful proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
It may also support brain function and memory.
5. Anti-aging effect.
The aging process is a natural process characterized by a decrease in the function of the body's cells.
Urolitin A has the ability to activate specific proteins that encourage the regeneration of the body's cells, and thus has the potential to slow down the aging process and extend life span.
Because urolithin A supports the healthy aging of the body's cells, it may also contribute to our general health as we age.
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How can we get Urolitin A?
A study published in 2021 examined how many people in the healthy population produce the substance urolithin A and is urolithin A supplementation effective?
It must be remembered that if we eat the previously mentioned foods such as pomegranates, berries, and nuts, these contain an inactive substance that needs to be converted into urolithin A by our gut bacteria in order for us to receive the health benefits.
When the researchers tested the levels of urolithin A in the blood of healthy subjects they found it in only 12% of the subjects.
In contrast, when the subjects were given pomegranate juice, which is rich in a substance that is converted into urolithin A by our gut bacteria, the researchers found that 40% of the subjects effectively converted the inactive substance in the pomegranate juice into the active urolithin A.
In the next step, the researchers gave the patients a supplement of urolithin A and found that the administration of the supplement raised the level of urolithin A in the blood 6 times compared to the level obtained after drinking pomegranate juice.
In other words, not in all subjects the intestinal bacteria do turn the inactive substance into the active substance Urolitin A, and this can be circumvented by giving a supplement of Urolitin A.
Dr. Dalit Driman Medina is an expert in family medicine and integrative and functional medicine
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