Urolithin / Risk Cancer Research Results

Uro, Urolithin: Click to Expand ⟱

Features:

Urolithins are gut microbiota–derived dibenzopyran-6-one metabolites formed from ellagitannins → ellagic acid. They are the bioactive, systemically relevant forms responsible for most of the anticancer, mitochondrial, and signaling effects attributed to pomegranate and berry consumption.
Ellagic acid itself is largely confined to the gut lumen; urolithins are what reach circulation and tissues.

Urolithin A (UA), Most studied; mitophagy, anticancer, anti-inflammatory

Humans fall into urolithin metabotypes:
Metabotype	Description	            Approx. Population
A	        Produces UA (best profile)	~40%
B	        Produces UB ± UA	       ~25–30%
0	        Non-producer	                ~30%

ROS Modulation (Context-Dependent)
Cancer cells:
-Mild ROS ↑ or redox stress → apoptosis, growth arrest
Normal cells:
-ROS ↓, improved mitochondrial efficiency

This duality is why urolithins are less chemo-antagonistic than classic antioxidants.

Anticancer Signaling
↓ PI3K/AKT/mTOR
↓ Wnt/β-catenin
↓ NF-κB, STAT3
Cell-cycle arrest (G1/S)

Unlike sulforaphane or NAC, urolithins:
-Do not strongly upregulate NRF2 in cancer cells
-May normalize NRF2 signaling in normal cells

Direct Urolithin A Supplements: Bypass microbiome dependency

Urolithin A–type activity — Cancer vs Normal Cell Effects

Rank	Pathway / Axis	Cancer Cells	Normal Cells	Label	Primary Interpretation	Notes
1	Mitophagy / mitochondrial quality control (PINK1–Parkin axis)	↑ mitophagy → loss of mitochondrial reserve	↑ mitophagy → improved mitochondrial fitness	Driver	Mitochondrial pruning and quality enforcement	Urolithins selectively stress cancer cells by removing dysfunctional mitochondria while rejuvenating normal-cell mitochondrial pools
2	Mitochondrial metabolism / bioenergetics	↓ metabolic flexibility; ↓ ATP resilience	↑ oxidative efficiency	Driver	Energy stress vs optimization	Cancer cells are less able to compensate for enforced mitochondrial turnover
3	Reactive oxygen species (ROS)	↑ ROS (secondary to mitochondrial stress)	↓ ROS	Secondary	Metabolism-linked redox shift	ROS changes arise from altered mitochondrial populations, not direct redox cycling
4	AMPK / mTOR nutrient-sensing axis	↑ AMPK; ↓ mTOR signaling	↑ AMPK (adaptive)	Secondary	Catabolic pressure and growth restraint	Energy-sensing pathways reinforce growth suppression in metabolically stressed tumor cells
5	Cell cycle regulation	↓ proliferation / ↑ arrest	↔ spared	Phenotypic	Cytostatic growth limitation	Growth inhibition reflects bioenergetic insufficiency rather than direct CDK inhibition
6	Inflammatory signaling (NF-κB / cytokines)	↓ pro-tumor inflammation	↓ inflammatory tone	Secondary	Anti-inflammatory modulation	Reduced inflammation contributes to chemopreventive and microenvironmental effects
7	NRF2 antioxidant response	↑ NRF2 (adaptive, secondary)	↑ NRF2 (protective)	Adaptive	Redox homeostasis reinforcement	NRF2 activation reflects improved mitochondrial quality and reduced oxidative burden rather than a cytotoxic mechanism
8	Apoptosis sensitivity	↑ sensitivity to apoptosis (stress-context dependent)	↓ apoptosis	Phenotypic	Threshold-dependent cell death	Apoptosis occurs when mitochondrial and energetic stress exceed adaptive capacity

Risk, Risk: Click to Expand ⟱

Source:

Type:

Risk: by definition reduces risk of disease or cancer.
Down Target direction of risk indicates lower cancer risk.
ChemoPreventive also mean lower cancer risk. But for Chemopreventive an up arrow indicates more preventive.

Cancer Risk Impact Score (CRIS)
CRIS scale:
–5 = very strong risk reduction
–4 = strong risk reduction
–3 = moderate risk reduction
–2 = modest risk reduction
–1 = weak / context-dependent
0 = neutral


CRIS  Exposure / Compound  Evidence  Cancers  Notes


-5  Exercise (overall)
VStrong Hum  BC, CRC, Endo, PCa, Liv
↓insulin/IGF-1, ↓inflammation, ↑immune surveillance, ↓hormones



-5  Aerobic + resistance  VStrong Hum  Broad inc + mort
Best overall exercise synergy



-4  Aerobic exercise (mod–vig)  VStrong Hum  BC, CRC, Endo
Dose–response; ↓visceral fat



-4  Resistance training (alone)  Strong Hum  BC, CRC
↑insulin sensitivity; ↑lean mass



-3  High-intensity interval training  Mod–Strong Hum  BC, CRC
↑AMPK; ↑mitochondrial function; adherence matters



-2  NEAT / low-intensity activity  Moderate Hum  CRC
↓sedentary harm



-5  Cruciferous vegetable pattern  Strong Hum  Lung, CRC, BC, PCa
↑NRF2, ↓CYP1; ITC synergy



-5  Sunlight exposure (physiologic)  Strong Hum  CRC, BC, PCa
↑circadian alignment, ↑immune effects beyond vitamin D



-4  Fasting (metabolic pattern)
Strong Mech + Hum  BC, CRC, PCa 
↓IGF-1, ↓mTOR, ↑autophagy



-4  Curcumin
Hum + Pre  GI, BC, PCa
↓NF-κB, ↓STAT3



-4  Sulforaphane
Hum + Pre  Lung, CRC, BC
↑NRF2, ↓HDAC



-4  PEITC
Hum + Pre  Lung, CRC, PCa
↓CYP1A2, ↑apoptosis



-4  EGCG (tea matrix)
Strong Hum  GI, PCa, BC
↓angiogenesis; tea matrix superior to extract



-4  Lycopene
Strong Hum  PCa
↓oxidative DNA damage



-4  Apigenin
Pre + Diet Hum  BC, PCa, CRC 
↓PI3K-AKT, ↑p53



-4  Luteolin
Pre + Diet Hum  Lung, CRC, BC 
↓STAT3, ↓EMT



-4  Kaempferol
Diet Hum  Ov, Panc, Lung
↓VEGF, ↑apoptosis



-4  Fisetin
Pre + Early Hum  CRC, PCa, Mel
↓mTOR; senolytic activity



-4  Ellagic acid → Urolithin A
Hum (microbiome)  CRC, PCa, BC
↑mitophagy, ↓ER/AR signaling



-3  Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
Strong Hum  CRC, BC
↓inflammation, ↓COX-2



-3  Vitamin D3 (supp)
Obs + RCT  CRC, BC
U-shaped response; ↓proliferation



-3  Garlic (allicin)
Mod Hum  GI
↓inflammation, ↓H. pylori



-3  Mushroom beta-glucans
Hum adjunct  GI, BC
↑NK cells, ↑immune surveillance



-3  Melatonin
Hum + Mech  BC, PCa
↓estrogen signaling, ↑circadian regulation



-3  Coffee (whole)
Strong Hum  Liv, Endo
↓fibrosis, ↓inflammation



-2  Quercetin
Limited Hum  Lung, CRC
Senolytic; ↓PI3K signaling



-2  Resveratrol
Limited Hum  CRC, BC
↓NF-κB; low bioavailability



-2  I3C / DIM
Mod Hum  BC, Cerv
↑2-OH estrogen, ↓ER signaling



-2  Thymoquinone
Early Hum  BC, CRC
↑apoptosis, ↓NF-κB



-2  Beta-carotene (food)
Hum  Lung
Antioxidant only in whole-food context



-1  Vitamin K2 (MK-4/7)
Limited Hum  Liv, PCa
↓proliferation, ↑differentiation



-1  Boron
Obs  PCa, Lung
↓inflammation; hormone modulation



0  Vitamin C (oral)
Strong Hum  —
Neutral overall effect



0  Genistein (soy)
Strong Hum  BC, PCa
Timing-dependent effects



0  Selenium (diet)
Mixed Hum  PCa
Narrow therapeutic window



0  Capsaicin
Mixed  Gastric
Dose-dependent effects



+2  Vitamin E (alpha only)
Strong RCT  PCa
Increased risk signal



+2  Green tea extract (high-dose)
Case reports  Liv
Hepatotoxicity reported



+4  Beta-carotene (supplement)
Strong RCT  Lung (smokers)
Increased lung cancer risk in smokers



+5  Alcohol (ethanol)
Strong Hum  BC, Liv, Eso
Linear increase in cancer risk




Evidence
Hum        human data
VStrong    very strong
Strong     strong
Mod        moderate
Obs        observational
Pre        preclinical
RCT        randomized controlled trial
Mech       mechanistic
Adjunct    adjunct clinical use

Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱

4864-

Uro,

Therapeutic Potential of Mitophagy-Inducing Microflora Metabolite, Urolithin A for Alzheimer's Disease

Review,

AD,

*neuroP↑, *Half-Life↝, *BBB↑, *toxicity↓, *Inflam↓, *Strength↑, *BACE↓, *Aβ↓, *MitoP↑, *SIRT1↑, *SIRT3↑, *AMPK↑, *PGC-1α↑, *mTOR↓, *PARK2↑, *Beclin-1↑, *ROS↓, *GutMicro↑, *Risk↓,

4869-

Uro,

Urolithin A in Central Nervous System Disorders: Therapeutic Applications and Challenges

Review,

AD,

Review,

Park,

Review,

Stroke,

*MitoP↑, *Inflam↓, *antiOx↑, *Risk↓, *Aβ↓, *p‑tau↓, *p62↓, *PARK2↑, *MMP↑, *ROS↓, *Strength↑, *CRP↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *TNF-α↓, *AMPK↑, *NF-kB↓, *MAPK↓, *p62↑, *NRF2↑, *SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *HO-1↑, *Ferroptosis↓, *lipid-P↓, *Cartilage↑, *PI3K↓, *Akt↓, *mTOR↓, *Apoptosis↓, *neuroP↑, *Bcl-2↓, *BAX↑, *Casp3↑, *ATP↑, *eff↑, *motorD↑, *NLRP3↓, *radioP↑, *BBB↑,

4876-

Uro,

Urolithin A in Health and Diseases: Prospects for Parkinson’s Disease Management

Review,

Park,

Review,

AD,

*Inflam↓, *antiOx↓, *neuroP↑, *p‑tau↓, *Aβ↓, *eff↑, *BioAv↓, *BioAv↑, *GSH↑, *SOD↑, *lipid-P↓, *Catalase↑, *GSR↑, *GPx↑, *ROS↓, *NRF2↑, *GutMicro↑, *Risk↓, *BBB↓, *NLRP3↓, *MAOA↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:

Total Targets: 0

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

motorD↑, 1, neuroP↑, 3, radioP↑, 1, Risk↓, 3, Strength↑, 2, toxicity↓, 1,
Total Targets: 59

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: Risk, Risk

3 Urolithin

Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:383  Target#:785  State#:%  Dir#:1
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

Urolithin / Risk Cancer Research Results

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:

Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

Cell Death ⓘ

Autophagy & Lysosomes ⓘ

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

Migration ⓘ

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

Protein Aggregation ⓘ

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

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