Comparison
Semaglutide vs Urolithin A
Side-by-side of Semaglutide and Urolithin A. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide for weight loss: GLP-1 agonist (Ozempic, Wegovy) drives 15-17% mean loss at 2.4 mg/week in STEP trials. Watch lean-mass loss.
Urolithin A
Urolithin A supplement guide: pomegranate-derived metabolite, 500-1000 mg Mitopure dosing, mitophagy and muscle endurance evidence.
Effects at a glance
Semaglutide
- •Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist with a ~7-day half-life that supports once-weekly subcutaneous dosing
- •STEP trials reported ~15 to 17% mean body-weight loss at 2.4 mg/week over 68 weeks in adults with obesity
- •Lowers HbA1c by ~1.0 to 1.8 percentage points in type 2 diabetes versus placebo
- •SELECT trial showed reduced major cardiovascular events in adults with prior CVD and overweight or obesity
- •Up to 25 to 40% of weight lost can be lean mass; pairing with resistance training and protein intake mitigates this
- •GI effects (nausea, vomiting, constipation) drive most discontinuations and ease with slow titration
Urolithin A
- •Gut-microbiome-derived metabolite of pomegranate and walnut ellagitannins
- •Roughly 40% of adults are 'urolithin producers' from dietary intake; ~60% are non-producers
- •Ryu 2016 (Nature Medicine) reported lifespan extension in C. elegans and muscle benefits in aged rodents
- •Andreux 2019 first-in-human trial (n=60) established safety and mitochondrial gene-expression upregulation
- •Singh 2022 (n=66, 4 months, 1000 mg/day) reported improved muscle endurance in older adults
- •Most human trial portfolio is Amazentis-funded; independent replication is thin
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Semaglutide | Urolithin A |
|---|---|---|
| Category | pharmaceutical | supplement |
| Also known as | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus | UA, Mitopure, ellagitannin metabolite |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 17 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 2.4 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | weekly (SC); daily (oral Rybelsus) | daily, morning with food |
| Routes | subcutaneous, oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 24 | 2 |
| Peak (hr) | 72 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 4113.58 | 228.2 |
| Molecular formula | - | C13H8O4 |
| Mechanism | Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist; potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and acts on hypothalamic satiety centers. | Induces mitophagy via potentiation of PINK1/Parkin signaling, leading to selective degradation of damaged mitochondria. Secondary anti-inflammatory effects via NF-kB modulation. |
| Legal status | Prescription only (FDA-approved, EMA-approved) | OTC dietary supplement (US GRAS 2018; EFSA Novel Food 2021) |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Rx only (not a controlled substance); FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (2017) and chronic weight management (2021) | OTC supplement (not scheduled) |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended; discontinue 2 months before planned pregnancy | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 910463-68-2 | 1143-70-0 |
| PubChem CID | 56843331 | 5488186 |
| Wikidata | Q27089394 | Q27101321 |
Safety profile
Semaglutide
Common side effects
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- injection-site reactions
- fatigue
Contraindications
- personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
- pregnancy
- history of pancreatitis (use caution)
Interactions
- insulin: additive hypoglycemia risk; insulin dose typically reduced(major)
- sulfonylureas (glipizide, glyburide): hypoglycemia risk, sulfonylurea dose often reduced(major)
- oral medications (general): delayed gastric emptying can alter absorption kinetics(moderate)
- warfarin: monitor INR due to altered absorption(moderate)
Urolithin A
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- soft stools (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data)
- active chemotherapy (consult oncology)
Interactions
- chemotherapy agents: theoretical interaction with mitochondrial-targeting agents; consult oncologist(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Urolithin A comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Semaglutide is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick Semaglutide.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick Semaglutide.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Urolithin A.
- → If your priority is muscle hypertrophy, pick Urolithin A.
Edge case: If you want to avoid prescription-only, Urolithin A is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Urolithin A. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Semaglutide only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Semaglutide and Urolithin A?
Semaglutide and Urolithin A differ in category (pharmaceutical vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Semaglutide or Urolithin A?
Semaglutide half-life is 168 hours; Urolithin A half-life is 17 hours.
Can you stack Semaglutide with Urolithin A?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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