In the study, 60 older adults in good health were given either a placebo, 250, 500 or 1000mg oral dose of UA daily over four weeks. The results were potentially game changing – the higher doses helped to create more muscle cells in a similar way that exercise does.
Dr Emma Derbyshire, Public Health Nutritionist and adviser to British Berry Growers commented; -“This is very interesting and promising research. We already know that berries provide a host of bioactive compounds with health potential including anthocyanins and ellagitannins but now the role of Urolithin A is being unlocked too.
“We also know that as we age, we are at greater risk of conditions such as sarcopenia – muscle loss – that can increase the risk of falling and subsequent fractures. It seems that Urolithin A in raspberries could have a similar effect as exercise or high quality protein – potentially helping to counteract these ageing effects. More research is needed using berries in trials so that these initial findings can be translated into dietary guidelines.”