Urolithin A improves cardiac relaxation in experimental heart failure models

Researchers at King's College London investigated urolithin A in animal models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and engineered heart tissue derived from human stem cells. The compound is produced in the body after consuming foods including pomegranates, walnuts and some berries. The study examined cardiac relaxation, fibrosis and heart muscle cell enlargement; sample sizes were not provided in the source report.

Urolithin A improved unspecified measures of heart function by up to 80% in treated animal models compared with untreated controls. Treatment also improved tissue relaxation, reduced fibrosis and limited enlargement of heart muscle cells. In engineered human heart tissue, relaxation improved significantly, although the report supplied no effect size or statistical details. Researchers linked these effects to activation of the protein PKG Iα through a specific amino acid.

The study, published in Science Advances and funded by the British Heart Foundation, identifies a potential therapeutic pathway rather than an established HFpEF treatment. Although the source reports a favorable safety profile from previous human studies of urolithin A, clinical trials are needed to determine efficacy in HFpEF. Doses, treatment duration and the endpoints underlying the reported 80% improvement were not specified. These findings do not support recommending pomegranates or urolithin A to treat heart failure.