Urolithin A is a gut-derived metabolite derived from ellagic acid, a naturally occurring polyphenol that is abundant in pomegranates, walnuts, and almonds. The antioxidant effects of Urolithin A and its ability to help maintain the body’s normal inflammatory response supports various health functions.* For example, a glass of pomegranate juice has been traditionally recommended to promote musculoskeletal health, delay age-associated cognitive decline, promote liver health, and enhance cellular energy production.*
How does Urolithin A support liver functions? This post explains Urolithin A’s liver-supportive properties, in addition to its overall health benefits,* and why you should include an advanced Urolithin A nutritional supplement in your diet. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.
Urolithin A: An Overview
Chemically, Urolithin A is denoted as Urolithin A-3,8-dihydroxy-urolithin. In the body, Urolithin A primarily exists in its free form, and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates occur post-metabolism in the liver. However, drinking a daily glass of pomegranate juice alone may not increase the circulating level of Urolithin A in the body on top of not always being accessible for most.
The amount of Urolithin A produced is not just dependent on the kinds of food you eat. Its endogenous production also largely depends on the metabolic activities of the gut’s microbiota. After Urolithin A is metabolized in the gut, it is absorbed and enters the body’s circulation, where it initially exists in its free form.
The following table shows how the pharmacologic effects of Urolithin A contribute to its many health-promoting benefits.*
| Pharmacologic Effects of Urolithin A | |
|---|---|
| Antioxidant effects: Urolithin A neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as peroxy radicals and superoxide radicals.*1 Urolithin A activates the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and upregulates the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.*2 Urolithin A promotes the synthesis of other antioxidant molecules, such as glutathione and glutathione S-transferase.*3 |
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| Maintaining normal inflammatory responses: Urolithin A downregulates adverse inflammatory responses and helps alleviate inflammation-induced damage from exercise and physical exertion.* Urolithin A downregulates the release of inflammatory mediators and suppresses the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways.*4 |
Health Benefits of Urolithin A
The antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of Urolithin A exert health-promoting effects on several health functions in the body.* The following table highlights Urolithin A’s health benefits.
| Urolithin A Promotes Multiple Health Functions | |
|---|---|
| Mitochondrial Health. Urolithin A is a known inducer of the positive process of mitophagy through various signaling pathways, such as the PINK1/parkin-independent pathway, which results in the beneficial degradation of defective mitochondria.*5Notably, the aging process is attributed in great measure to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Urolithin A’s role in promoting mitochondrial health in aging tissues translates to its longevity-supporting properties.* | |
| Neurological Health. In an animal study that evaluated Urolithin A’s role in enhancing cognitive function through improved intestinal function, it was found that administration of Urolithin A suppressed age-related memory impairment.*6 | |
| Musculoskeletal Health. A review of the potential longevity-supportive benefits of Urolithin A shows that it enhances muscle strength and endurance.*7 | |
| Cardiovascular Health. Because the heart is particularly sensitive to mitochondrial dysfunction, Urolithin A’s role in enhancing mitochondrial health promotes optimal cardiovascular functions.*8 | |
| Skin Health. Research indicates that Urolithin A significantly increases collagen expression and lowers intracellular ROS in senescent human skin fibroblasts, indicating its potential role in slowing intrinsic skin aging.*9 |
Urolithin A’s Liver-Supportive Properties
Oxidative stress is a crucial factor in the onset and progression of various adverse liver conditions. For example, excess amounts of oxidant agents or ROS can be released in liver mitochondria, which can cause adverse inflammatory responses and lead to the death of liver cells. Urolithin A’s antioxidant properties help limit oxidative stress in the liver.*
Pomegranate is well-documented for protecting against various liver-associated conditions. This suggests that Urolithin A can play a vital role in regulating metabolism and insulin resistance, contributing to hepatic homeostasis. Urolithin A’s antioxidative properties, combined with its ability to help maintain normal inflammatory responses in cells and limit programmed cell death, are assumed to contribute to its liver-protective benefits.
The following table highlights studies that establish Urolithin A’s liver-supportive properties:*
| Studies Exploring Urolithin A’s Liver-Supportive Properties | |
|---|---|
| Urolithin A helps ameliorate an excess of fat buildup in the liver. Excessive fructose consumption exacerbates fat buildup in the liver. In a mouse model, Urolithin A has been found to restore lipid homeostasis and can benefit affected individuals with high fructose intake.10 | |
| Urolithin A helps ameliorate age-related liver and kidney injury. Urolithin A has been found to limit the extent of oxidative damage to liver and kidney in mice.11 | |
| Liver-protective effects of Urolithin A against acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Acetaminophen, a common over-the-counter drug used to reduce fever and relieve pain, is considered safe at a dosage ranging from 325-650 mg every 4-6 hours, with a daily maximum of four grams for an adult. However, overdosing on acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity. Urolithin A alleviates acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress and liver damage by activating Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways.*12 | |
| Effects of Urolithin A on Doxorubicin-induced liver injury: Doxorubicin (DOX), an antibiotic, can cause liver toxicity due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during its metabolism in the body. The oxidative stress caused by ROS can significantly deplete antioxidant enzymes. Urolithin A limited DOX-induced liver toxicity and liver injury in rats by minimizing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death (apoptosis).*13 |
Including An Advanced Urolithin A Supplement in Your Diet
Not everyone generates the same amount of Urolithin A after consuming dietary ellagitannins or ellagic acid. In animal studies, Urolithin A is absorbed into the blood and metabolized rapidly by the liver’s Phase II enzymes. However, Urolithin A’s poor solubility in water and its low natural bioavailability can hinder its health-promoting applications.
In a study that compared the effects of daily pomegranate juice intake and direct Urolithin A supplementation, the direct Urolithin A supplementation provided a 6-fold greater increase in the blood level of Urolithin A than pomegranate juice.14
Urolithin A is an innovative supplement formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® —DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables targeted delivery of Urolithin A molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract for enhanced absorption and bioavailability.
This optimal delivery method better achieves Urolithin A’s liver-supportive properties.* ANd the optimal bioavailability of Urolithin A enables it to be micro-dosed, which means Urolithin A can be taken in a lesser amount than would otherwise be required to achieve its desired health-promoting benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Urolithin A Supplements for Liver Health
Although Urolithin A’s liver-supportive properties are well-researched, certain aspects of Urolithin A supplements should be considered before including it in the diet. The following are frequently asked questions (FAQs) about taking Urolithin A as a nutritional supplement.
Can I take a Urolithin A supplement with a prescription medicine?
Urolithin A is known to be well-tolerated and has a well-established positive safety profile when taken as a nutritional supplement. However, certain prescription medicines, such as antibiotics and antifungal medications, can interact with Urolithin A and adversely affect the medicine’s absorption and metabolism. Consult your health-care provider before taking a Urolithin A supplement with a prescription medicine.
Can pomegranate juice address excess fat build-up in the liver?
Long-term intake of pomegranate juice is associated with lower levels of the liver enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). However, consult your health-care provider before taking pomegranate juice daily or including a Urolithin A supplement in your diet to address excess fat build-up in the liver.
What should I look for when considering a Urolithin A supplement?
A Urolithin A supplement formulation with optimal absorption and bioavailability will best achieve its health and wellness benefits. Look for a supplement formulation that utilizes advanced nutrient delivery technology for enhanced absorption.
Also, look for a trusted and reputable supplement manufacturer to ensure the purity and safety of the supplement’s ingredients. A supplement formulation developed through advanced production technologies at a facility that follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) will best achieve the health-promoting benefits of the ingredients.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption, and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop productson our website and learn more about how they support your liver health.*
References:
1Boakye YD, et al. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. General Subjects vol. 1862,1 (2018):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.10.006
2Morgan MJ, Liu Z-G. Cell Research vol. 21,1 (2011):103-115. doi:10.1038/cr.2010.178
3Esselun C, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences vol. 22,15 8333. 3 Aug. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijms22158333
4D’Amico D, et al. Aging Cell vol. 21,8 (2022): e13662. doi:10.1111/acel.13662
5Boakye YD, et al. An increased autophagic flux contributes to the anti-inflammatory potential of urolithin A in macrophages. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. General Subjects vol. 1862,1 (2018):61-70.
6Liu C-F, et al. Antiaging effects of Urolithin A on replicative senescent human skin fibroblasts. Rejuvenation Research vol. 22,3 (2019):191-200. doi:10.1089/rej.2018.2066
7Kubota D, et al. Nutrients vol. 16,19 3369. 3 Oct. 2024, doi:10.3390/nu16193369
8Liu S, et al. iScience vol. 28,2 111814. 14 Jan. 2025, doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.111814
9Singh A, et al. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 76,2 (2022):297-308. doi:10.1038/s41430-021-00950-1
10Zhang C, Song Y, Yuan M, et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2023;71(9):3967-3980. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.2c05776
11Chen P, Lei J, Chen F, Zhou B. RSC Adv. 2020;10(14):8027-8038. Published 2020 Feb 24. doi:10.1039/d0ra00774a
12Gao Z, et al. International Journal of Biological Sciences vol. 18,5 2146-2162. 28 Feb. 2022, doi:10.7150/ijbs.69116
13Karim S, et al. Biomedicines vol. 11,4 1125. 7 Apr. 2023, doi:10.3390/biomedicines1104112514Singh A, et al. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 76,2 (2022):297-308. doi:10.1038/s41430-021-00950-1
