Urolithin A — A Metabolite with a Unique Origin

Urolithin A is a dibenzopyranone — a planar aromatic molecule with hydroxyl groups at positions 3 and 8. It is not directly present in any food; it is produced inside the human body when specific gut bacteria metabolize ellagic acid, a polyphenol abundant in pomegranates, berries, and walnuts. This transformation — from dietary polyphenol to bioactive metabolite — yields a molecule known to activate mitophagy, the cellular pathway responsible for identifying and recycling damaged mitochondria.

The Formulation Challenge — Solubility and Stability

Urolithin A’s molecular structure creates two practical obstacles for supplement manufacturing. First, its flat aromatic core makes it extremely hydrophobic — native UA powder has negligible water solubility, limiting its use in liquid and beverage formats. Second, the phenolic hydroxyl groups are susceptible to oxidation, leading to gradual dimerization or degradation that reduces active content during storage.

The Solution — Liposomal Encapsulation

(1) Solubility Bypass. Instead of trying to dissolve UA in water, the liposomal vesicle embeds it within its hydrophobic lipid interior — the same principle that makes biological membranes effective at handling lipophilic compounds. Upon rehydration, vesicles disperse as a stable colloidal suspension without organic co-solvents.

(2) Oxidation Protection. The phospholipid bilayer acts as a physical barrier between encapsulated UA and environmental oxygen, reducing oxidative degradation at the phenolic hydroxyl positions — the primary degradation pathway for UA during blending and shelf storage.

(3) QC-Verified Quality. EE% ≥ 80% (dialysis/HPLC) confirms genuine encapsulation — distinguishing liposomal UA from simple physical blends with phospholipids. DLS sizing verifies 80–300 nm vesicles per batch. These are routine QC data on every CoA, not marketing claims.

1. Mitochondrial Health Formulations

UA combined with CoQ10 / ubiquinol and PQQ for comprehensive mitochondrial support. Liposomal encapsulation addresses UA’s solubility limitation, ensuring uniform distribution in multi-component blends.

2. Cellular Wellness & Healthy Aging

UA’s mitophagy-activation role positions it for premium cellular health products. The 70% grade enables compact capsule dimensions for single-active SKUs.

3. Muscle & Active Lifestyle Support

UA formulated with creatine, amino acids, and electrolytes for muscle health products. Free-flowing liposomal powder ensures homogeneous dry-blend distribution.

4. Pomegranate Botanical Complexes

UA combined with pomegranate extract and ellagic acid creates a coherent botanical-to-metabolite narrative. UA is the compound researchers believe mediates many of pomegranate’s documented effects.

OEM & CUSTOM FORMULATION

CERTIFICATIONS

TRANSPORTATION

PACKAGING

Urolithin A is a specific metabolite — not directly extracted from any plant. In the body, gut bacteria convert ellagic acid (from pomegranates, berries, walnuts) into UA. Our product contains synthetic Urolithin A (CAS 1143-70-0), chemically identical to this naturally-occurring metabolite. The phospholipid carriers are from non-GMO plant sources (sunflower or soy lecithin).

50% = 500 mg Urolithin A per gram — ideal for multi-ingredient blends. 70% = 700 mg per gram — ideal for high-potency single-active products with smaller capsule dimensions. Both grades share identical QC specifications, EE% thresholds, and particle size ranges.

EE% ≥ 80% (dialysis/HPLC) confirms the proportion of UA genuinely enclosed within phospholipid vesicles — distinguishing it from simple UA-plus-phospholipid dry blends. DLS sizing (80–300 nm) verifies consistent nano-scale vesicle architecture. Both are measured per batch and documented on the batch-specific CoA — routine QC data, not marketing claims.