Urolithin A: Studies, FDA GRAS Notice and Tracking
App Library Tools Pricing Download
[Supplement · Compound guide]

Urolithin A: what it is, studies and tracking

Amounts studied · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is Urolithin A?

Urolithin A is a compound that gut bacteria make from substances in some foods. It is studied for mitophagy, the way cells clear out worn-out mitochondria, and for muscle function in older adults. It is sold as a supplement and as a food ingredient, including under the name Mitopure.

Also known as: UA, Mitopure.

Amounts studied

Urolithin A has no intake value. Human trials used 500 mg or 1,000 mg a day for 4 weeks (Andreux, 2019) and 1,000 mg a day for 4 months (Liu, 2022). FDA's GRAS notice covers use in foods at typical levels of 250 or 500 mg per serving. These are study protocols, not a recommendation.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. In December 2018 FDA closed GRAS Notice 791 for urolithin A, from the company Amazentis, with no questions about its conclusion that urolithin A is generally recognized as safe for use in foods such as protein shakes, bars and yogurts (typically 250 or 500 mg per serving, up to 500 or 1,000 mg).

In the first human trial (Andreux, 2019), single doses and 4 weeks of 500 or 1,000 mg a day were well tolerated in healthy older adults and changed markers of mitochondrial health. In a 4-month trial in 66 adults aged 65 to 90 (Liu, 2022), 1,000 mg a day improved muscle endurance in hand and leg muscles, but the main outcomes, 6-minute walk distance and peak muscle energy production, did not differ significantly from placebo. A 4-month trial in middle-aged adults (Singh, 2022) reported about 12% better muscle strength, but no significant change in its main outcome, peak power. In the older-adult trial, adverse events did not differ from placebo. All three trials involved the company that makes it.

Urolithin A half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a published human half-life or time to peak for urolithin A that we could check against a primary source, so we do not list one. The first human trial reports that it reached the blood at every dose tested (Andreux, 2019).

How to track Urolithin A in Dose Track

  1. Add Urolithin A as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

Oral NAD+ Precursors (NR and NMN)nicotinamide riboside, NR Creatine Monohydratecreatine monohydrate Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone · half-life about 33 hours SS-31 (Elamipretide)Elamipretide, Forzinity

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of Urolithin A?+
We could not find a published human half-life or time to peak for urolithin A that we could check against a primary source, so we do not list one. The first human trial reports that it reached the blood at every dose tested (Andreux, 2019).
Is urolithin A FDA approved?+
No. It is not a drug. FDA closed a GRAS notice for it in 2018 with no questions, which covers its use as a food ingredient. Supplements are not approved by FDA before sale.
What did the urolithin A trials find?+
In older adults, 1,000 mg a day for 4 months improved muscle endurance but not walking distance. In middle-aged adults, strength rose about 12% while the main outcome, peak power, did not change significantly. The trials were funded or run by the maker.
Can I track Urolithin A in Dose Track?+
Yes. Urolithin A is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Andreux PA, et al. The mitophagy activator urolithin A is safe and induces a molecular signature of improved mitochondrial and cellular health in humans. Nat Metab. 2019;1(6):595-603.
  2. FDA. GRAS Notice No. 791: urolithin A (Amazentis SA). Closed December 20, 2018, FDA has no questions.
  3. Liu S, et al. Effect of urolithin A supplementation on muscle endurance and mitochondrial health in older adults: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2144279.
  4. Singh A, et al. Urolithin A improves muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in a randomized trial in middle-aged adults. Cell Rep Med. 2022;3(5):100633.
  5. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

All compound guides · Reconstitution calculator · Supported medications