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Until recently, the loss of muscle mass with age did not attract the attention of doctors and scientists. The role of the state of the skeletal muscles in increasing the duration of the active phase of life remained underestimated. However, in the last 15 years, the attitude towards this factor began to change.
Now scientists have found out that pomegranate can have a positive effect on muscle recovery. According to them, the fruit acts as a buffer against all the complications associated with aging.
Researchers suggest that one of the main molecules of pomegranate - urolithin a (UA) - can protect against the causes of aging associated with the loss of muscle mass. It was found that the molecule can restore the cell's ability to remove damaged mitochondria.
Specialists from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne conducted research on various animals. It turned out that the worms that were given pomegranate lived almost twice as long on average. And after the administration of UA to mice, the animals ran 42% more distance than before.
The researchers noted that the performance of the animals improved without significant changes in muscle size. "This is the only known molecule that can restart the process of cleaning up damaged mitochondria, also known as mitophagy," explained study author Patrick Ebischer.
However, a person would have to drink four glasses of pomegranate juice a day to get an equivalent dose of UA. Scientists also noted that urolithin A is found not only in pomegranates, but also in many berries and nuts, although in smaller quantities.
