Research suggests that urolithin A (UA) holds promise as an anti-aging compound across a range of biological systems, with studies in model organisms such as C. elegans and mice consistently reporting benefits including extended lifespan, reduced oxidative stress, improved mitochondrial function through mitophagy, reduced markers of cellular senescence, and protection against age-related muscle and cognitive decline. The body of evidence reviewed here consists primarily of preclinical studies — including animal models, cell culture experiments, and invertebrate models — along with several narrative reviews, with no randomized controlled trials in humans included in this set; the overall direction of the literature is supportive, though a small number of studies are characterized as mixed or neutral, particularly those examining applications in reproductive biology and lung disease where findings were more nuanced or context-dependent. Studies indicate that UA's biological activity depends substantially on an individual's gut microbiome composition, as the ability to convert dietary ellagitannins from foods like pomegranates and berries into UA varies between people, and research has found that conditions like inflammatory bowel disease may reduce this conversion capacity. The absence of large-scale human clinical trial data is a notable limitation, and while the preclinical evidence is consistently encouraging, researchers across multiple studies acknowledge that more rigorous human studies are needed before conclusions about effectiveness and safety in people can be drawn.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urolithin A (UA) attenuates ferroptosis in LPS-induced acute lung injury in m... | Other | 2023 | Neutral | 100 |
| Anti-Aging Effect of Urolithin A on Bovine Oocytes In Vitro. | Other | 2021 | Supports | 95 |
| Nutraceutical activation of Sirt1: a review. | Review | 2022 | Neutral | 90 |
| Distinct Classes of Gut Bacterial Molybdenum-Dependent Enzymes Produce Urolit... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 85 |
| Inhibition of the NF-κB and mTOR targets by urolithin A attenuates D-galactos... | Other | 2023 | Supports | 85 |
| Mitigating Proinflammatory SASP and DAMP with Urolithin A: A Novel Senomorphi... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 80 |
| Caenorhabditis elegans as a Screening Platform for Anti-aging Compounds. | Other | 2025 | Supports | 80 |
| Urolithin A Produced by Novel Microbial Fermentation Possesses Anti-aging Eff... | Other | 2023 | Supports | 75 |
| Urolithin A attenuates pulmonary fibrosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway: Evid... | Other | 2025 | Mixed | 70 |
| Anti-aging effects of dietary phytochemicals: From Caenorhabditis elegans, Dr... | Review | 2024 | Supports | 65 |
| Effect of Urolithin A on Bovine Sperm Capacitation and In Vitro Fertilization. | Other | 2024 | Mixed | 60 |
| Pharmacological Effects of Urolithin A and Its Role in Muscle Health and Perf... | Review | 2023 | Supports | 55 |
| Ameliorative Effect of Ellagic Acid on Aging in Rats with the Potential Mecha... | Other | 2023 | Supports | 50 |
| Distinct classes of gut bacterial molybdenum-dependent enzymes produce urolit... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 45 |
| The Synthesis of Urolithins and their Derivatives and the Modes of Antitumor ... | Review | 2023 | Neutral | 40 |
| Urolithin A Inactivation of TLR3/TRIF Signaling to Block the NF-κB/STAT1 Axis... | Other | 2022 | Supports | 35 |
| Quinolinic acid impairs mitophagy promoting microglia senescence and poor hea... | Other | 2023 | Supports | 30 |