Urolithin A enhances aerobic capacity and recovery in trained runners 🫁

A useful addition to the endurance stack?

Evaluating the Impact of Urolithin A Supplementation on Running Performance, Recovery, and Mitochondrial Biomarkers in Highly Trained Male Distance Runners

Study Details

This new study recruited 42 competitive male distance runners to receive a daily dose of either…

1️⃣ Urolithin A (1000 mg)

2️⃣ Placebo

…for 4-weeks during an altitude training camp (1700 - 2200 m) 🏔️

During the camp, a weekly downhill running bout was performed to challenge skeletal muscle 💥

Physiological outcomes and performance were assessed at baseline and post-training camp 🔍

Here is what they found ⬇️

Key Findings

Compared to placebo, urolithin A led to significantly…

🧠 Lowered RPE

💥 Reduced markers of muscle damage

…following a 3000m time trial.

Runners in the urolithin A group also showed showed a significant large within-group increase in VO2max 🫁

(5.4 ± 0.9%, 66.4 ± 0.8 to 70.0 ± 1.0 ml/kg)

👉 With a smaller increase in the placebo group (3.6 ± 1.3%)

Muscle biopsies also revealed urolithin A…

📈 upregulated pathways associated with mitochondria

📉 downregulated inflammatory pathways

However, despite these physiological changes, running performance was not significantly improved in either treatment group ⏱️

Conclusion

Urolithin A supplementation (1000mg/day) may enhance some physiological adaptations in trained runners (incl. recovery and aerobic capacity) ✅

Although, these may not result in improved performance outcomes ≤ 4-week period ❌

Reference

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40839339/

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