Evidence Level
The research landscape for Urolithin A is characterized by a transition from robust mechanistic evidence in cell cultures to emerging, though limited, human clinical data. While animal models and in vitro studies provide strong evidence for its role in stimulating mitophagy—the lysosomal degradation of damaged mitochondria—human-centric evidence is currently restricted to a small number of pilot RCTs. A notable 2022 study involving 30 participants demonstrated that daily supplementation with 1g of Urolithin A over 30 days may improve muscle function and reduce muscle damage markers, but the small sample size prevents broad generalization. Further large-scale, long-term human RCTs are required to confirm its efficacy for sarcopenia prevention and metabolic health.