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Assessment of Urolithin A effects on muscle endurance, strength, inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein metabolism in male athletes with resistance training: an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Zhao H, Zhu H, Yun H, Liu J, Song G, Teng J, Zou D, Lu N, Liu C
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2024 21(1):2419388

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 39487653
PubMed Central
PMC11536656
DOI
10.1080/15502783.2024.2419388
Competing interests
The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.

Study snapshot

Design8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
ModelResistance-trained male athletes
Sample20 participants
InterventionUrolithin A 1 g/day versus placebo
Duration8 weeks
Endpoints1RM bench press and squat; Maximum voluntary isometric contraction; Repetitions to failure; CRP and IL-6; SOD and 3-methylhistidine

What the study showed, in plain terms

This small independent trial tested 1 g/day Urolithin A in resistance-trained men. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction and repetitions to failure improved versus placebo, while 1RM bench press and squat did not significantly differ. The inflammation and oxidative-stress results were mixed.

Key findings

MVIC and repetitions-to-failure improved significantly versus placebo.

Bench-press and squat 1RM did not improve significantly versus placebo.

CRP was lower versus placebo at follow-up, while IL-6 was not significantly different.

The study was small but independent of the major commercial Urolithin A trial program.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Only 20 male athletes were studied.

Multiple endpoints increase the chance of isolated positive findings.

Short duration limits conclusions about long-term adaptation or safety.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology