Immunity-Boosting Compound May Help Slow Aging, Prevent Cancer

As we age, our bodies decline due to various factors. The Hallmarks of Aging study in 2013 identified nine factors that contribute to health decline in advancing age, including inflammation. Inflammation is a significant risk factor for diseases and death in the elderly. Aging also leads to an accumulation of faulty mitochondria in our cells, leading to a decline in energy levels.

Mitophagy is a cellular renewal process that recycles poorly functioning mitochondria into newer and healthier ones. Inducing and harnessing mitophagy may ameliorate disease and slow down aging, making this a newer field of research that holds much promise.

The compound Urolithin A found in berries, walnuts, and pomegranates seems to have significant anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties, making this a beneficial food. Urolithin A protects against aging and age-related conditions, affecting various organs, by inducing mitophagy. While research is relatively new, recent advances highlight that Urolithin A improves mitochondrial health.

Urolithin A is the only clinically studied natural molecule shown to activate mitophagy and improve mitochondrial and cellular health safely across multiple randomized clinical trials when orally administered. Besides, it changes T cells’ genetic program, making them better able to fight tumors, and improves immune cell function, making it a potential treatment for colorectal cancer.

Approximately 40 percent of the human population has the specific gut microbiome composition required for Urolithin A production. Direct supplementation with Urolithin A can overcome limitations of dietary exposure and gut microbiome variability in healthy adults to achieve consistent levels across the population.

Eating a balanced diet rich in fiber, fruits, and nuts that are rich in the dietary precursors that lead to Urolithin A production can boost your body’s functioning from the cellular level. Research into the benefits of Urolithin A is relatively new, but it holds much promise as an anti-inflammatory agent and a possible cancer treatment.