The claim that healthy eating is the key to a longer life is now further backed by scientific evidence, this time with pomegranates. The fruit contains molecules called ellagitannins, which when ingested, are converted into a compound called Urolithin A (UA) in the human gut. UA is a metabolite of biomolecules found in pomegranates and other fruits that have been found to have anti-aging effects. It can slow down the mitochondrial aging process. However, not everyone produces UA naturally.
That’s why scientists decided to synthesize the compound. EPFL spin-off Amazentis, in conjunction with the Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology (LISP) and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, conducted a clinical trial to test its effectiveness. The compound proved effective at slowing some cellular aging processes in human trials and it showed to poses no risk to human health. The team published their findings in the journal Nature Metabolism.
According to EPFL, once a person reaches the age of 50 their skeletal muscles begin to lose strength and mass. However, UA could slow down this process by improving the functioning of mitochondria – commonly known as the cells’ powerhouses. UA is the only known compound that re-establishes cells’ ability to recycle defective mitochondria. This process happens naturally in young people. But as we age, our body starts to lose its power to clean up dysfunctional mitochondria, causing sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass) and the weakening of other tissues.
The Study
- First, they had around 60 elderly people, all sedentary yet in good health, take just a single dose of between 250 and 2,000 mg of UA. Once they observed there were no side effects compared to the control group who were given a placebo, they proceeded with the rest of the trial.
- They split all the participants up into four groups, each receiving a placebo or a 250, 500 or 1,000 mg daily dose of UA for 28 days. Again, no adverse health impacts were found.
- To assess the efficiency of the UA, they looked at cellular and mitochondrial health biomarkers in the participants’ blood and muscle tissue.
The Results
- UA stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis – the process by which cells increase mitochondrial mass – in the same way as regular exercise.
Conclusion
Back in 2016, a study on UA produced shockingly good results. The lifespan of nematode worms exposed to UA increased by 45% – from around 20 to 30 days; and also. The endurance of older mice exposed to UA showed a 40% improvement while running after two weeks of treatment. Therefore, the compound may have even more benefits for human health than is yet known.
Johan Auwerx, a professor at LISP, the EPFL lab involved in the trial, said:
These latest findings, which build on previous preclinical trials, really crystallize how UA could be a game-changer for human health.
If they can develop a treatment with UA, they believe it could slow down or even reverse the loss of skeletal muscle mass that naturally occurs with age, as well as the weakening of other tissues. Next, they hope to harness the promising results to quickly bring the product to market. The team is determined to slow, or even reverse, the natural effects of aging.
The post Compound From Pomegranates With Anti-aging Effects Passes Human Trial appeared first on Intelligent Living.
