Life - giving pomegranate
It has long been known that skeletal muscles begin to lose strength and mass when a person reaches 50 years of age. Swiss scientists conducted a study that showed that a substance formed during the metabolism of biomolecules found in pomegranates and other fruits can slow down this process, improving the functioning of mitochondria, which synthesize the chemical equivalent of energy – ATP (adenositriphosphate).
The statement that a healthy diet is the key to prolonging life has long filled everyone's teeth, but now it is backed up by scientific data. Pomegranate contains ellagotanins, which form a metabolite in the intestine called urolitin A (Uro A).
An article published in 2016 showed that the life expectancy of nematodes exposed to Uro A increased by 45% – from about 20 to 30 days compared to the control group. Similarly, old mice had 40% improved endurance when running after two weeks of treatment. Researchers have found that Uro A slows down the aging process of mitochondria.
In a pilot clinical study, scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) tested the safety and efficacy of urolitin A on a group of volunteers.
Since not all people can synthesize this substance on their own, scientists artificially synthesized this substance, and thus all study participants received the same amount of Uro A.
About 60 practically healthy elderly people took part in the experiment. Initially, they took a single dose of Uro A from 250 to 2000 mg or placebo. No side effects were detected in comparison with patients taking placebo.
The participants were then divided into four groups, each of which received a placebo or a daily dose of Uro A 250, 500 or 1000 mg for 28 days. Even after taking the drug for a long time, no side effects were observed.
After that, the scientists began to study the effectiveness of the substance by examining biomarkers of the health of cells and mitochondria in the blood and muscle tissue of the participants. As a result, it turned out that Uro A stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis – the process by which cells increase mitochondrial mass – just like regular exercise.
Uro A is the only compound known to science that restores the ability of cells to recycle defective mitochondria. In young people, this process occurs naturally, but with age, the body loses the ability to purify dysfunctional mitochondria, causing sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass) and weakening of other tissues. Scientists have focused on slowing down this aging process.
Article by Andreux et al. The mitophagy activator urolithin A is safe and induces a molecular signature of improved mitochondrial and cellular health in humans is published in the journal Nature Metabolism.
Elena Panasyuk, portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru / based on the materials of EPFL Compound with anti-aging effects passes human trial.