Comparison
Testosterone vs Urolithin A
Side-by-side of Testosterone 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.
Testosterone
Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadism: TRAVERSE 2023 cardiovascular data, cypionate dosing, body composition gains, Schedule III status.
Urolithin A
Urolithin A supplement guide: pomegranate-derived metabolite, 500-1000 mg Mitopure dosing, mitophagy and muscle endurance evidence.
Effects at a glance
Testosterone
- •Primary androgen; FDA approved for hypogonadism with confirmed deficiency and symptoms
- •Testosterone Trials (2016) showed sexual function and bone density improvements in older hypogonadal men
- •TRAVERSE 2023 (n=5,246) found non-inferiority on MACE versus placebo, with higher AF and PE rates
- •Schedule III controlled substance in US; WADA banned in sport
- •Aromatizes to estradiol; converts to DHT via 5-alpha reductase; both metabolites matter clinically
- •Erythrocytosis (HCT above 54%) affects 5 to 25% of users and is the most common dose-limiting effect
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 | Testosterone | Urolithin A |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | supplement |
| Also known as | TRT, testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, Androgel, Testim | UA, Mitopure, ellagitannin metabolite |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 192 | 17 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 150 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | weekly to twice-weekly (cypionate/enanthate IM or SC); daily (topical, oral); every 3 to 6 months (pellet) | daily, morning with food |
| Routes | intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, buccal, subcutaneous (pellet), oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 24 | 2 |
| Peak (hr) | 72 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 228.2 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | C13H8O4 |
| Mechanism | Androgen receptor agonist driving anabolic gene transcription in muscle, bone, brain, and androgen-sensitive tissue. Aromatized to estradiol and 5-alpha-reduced to DHT, both with distinct downstream effects. | 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 | Schedule III controlled substance (US); WADA banned | OTC dietary supplement (US GRAS 2018; EFSA Novel Food 2021) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Schedule III | OTC supplement (not scheduled) |
| Pregnancy | Category X; contraindicated in pregnancy (virilizing effect on female fetus) | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 58-22-0 | 1143-70-0 |
| PubChem CID | 6013 | 5488186 |
| Wikidata | Q150726 | Q27101321 |
Safety profile
Testosterone
Common side effects
- erythrocytosis
- acne
- oily skin
- fluid retention
- increased body hair
- fertility suppression
- injection-site reactions
Contraindications
- active prostate cancer
- active breast cancer
- untreated severe sleep apnea
- untreated severe BPH
- uncontrolled heart failure
- polycythemia at baseline
Interactions
- warfarin: may potentiate anticoagulant effect; monitor INR(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity; monitor glucose in diabetics(moderate)
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride): blocks DHT conversion; reduces some androgen effects(moderate)
- aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole): lowers estradiol; risk of over-suppression(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. Testosterone is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick Testosterone.
- → If your priority is sexual function, pick Testosterone.
- → 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 controlled substance, 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 Testosterone 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 Testosterone and Urolithin A?
Testosterone and Urolithin A differ in category (hormone vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Testosterone or Urolithin A?
Testosterone half-life is 192 hours; Urolithin A half-life is 17 hours.
Can you stack Testosterone 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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