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BiologicalX

Dosage guide

Urolithin A dosage

Urolithin A dosing: typical range, frequency, half-life, onset, routes. Evidence-tiered.

At a glance

Typical dose
500mg
Half-life
17hr
Frequency
daily, morning with food
Routes
oral

Protocol

  1. 1

    Measure the dose

    Typical Urolithin A dose is 500 mg. Use a weight-based calculator for individual adjustments.

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  2. 2

    Set the frequency

    Administer daily, morning with food. Half-life of 17 hours anchors the dosing interval.

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  3. 3

    Cycle if needed

    No formal cycling; long-term tachyphylaxis not characterized

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  4. 4

    Monitor for side effects

    Watch for: mild GI upset (rare); soft stools (rare). Stop or reduce dose if tolerability breaks down.

Why this dose

Induces mitophagy via potentiation of PINK1/Parkin signaling, leading to selective degradation of damaged mitochondria. Secondary anti-inflammatory effects via NF-kB modulation.

The typical 500 mg dose is the figure most commonly used in published protocols for Urolithin A. Treat the label as a starting point: body weight, training status, sleep, diet, and concurrent medications all shift the effective dose-response curve in real users.

How to administer

Urolithin A is administered via the oral route. Oral dosing is straightforward: take with water, with or without food unless specifically noted.

Onset of action runs around 2 hours after administration. Peak effect lands near 4 hours post-dose. Plan the administration window so that peak effect lines up with whatever outcome you are dosing for, whether that is training, sleep, or symptom coverage.

Half-life note: Plasma half-life ~17 hours supports once-daily dosing; circulating largely as UA-glucuronide

Cycling and tolerance

No formal cycling; long-term tachyphylaxis not characterized

Effects to expect at typical dose

  • 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

Best-graded outcomes

  • A Lifespan extension in C. elegans : ~45% lifespan extension (Ryu 2016) (Worm model).
  • A Mitophagy induction (mechanistic) : Well-mapped via PINK1/Parkin (In vitro and rodent).
  • A Mitochondrial gene expression in human muscle : Dose-dependent transcriptomic signal (Older adults, 500 to 1000 mg).

Side effects and interactions

Common side effects

  • mild GI upset (rare)
  • soft stools (rare)

Notable interactions

  • chemotherapy agents (moderate): theoretical interaction with mitochondrial-targeting agents; consult oncologist

Lists above cover commonly reported and well-characterized items. They are not exhaustive: review the full Urolithin A profile and discuss with a clinician familiar with your medication list before starting, particularly if you are on prescription therapy or have a chronic condition.

Regulatory snapshot

WADA status
allowed
DEA / Rx
OTC supplement (not scheduled)
Pregnancy
Insufficient data; not routinely recommended
Legal status
OTC dietary supplement (US GRAS 2018; EFSA Novel Food 2021)

Do not use if

  • pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data)
  • active chemotherapy (consult oncology)

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