Recent breakthroughs highlight the role of mitochondrial function, NAD⁺ metabolism, autophagy and antioxidant defenses in maintaining cellular vitality and delaying age-related decline.
Innovations range from polyphenol-rich blends that boost NAD⁺ and mitochondrial health to compounds like ergothioneine and urolithin A that show promise in protecting cognition, supporting immune function and counteracting inflammaging. Herbal extracts, amino acids and synbiotics are also being explored for their ability to modulate cellular senescence, enhance metabolic health and even influence biological age markers such as telomere length and DNA methylation.
As research continues to uncover the mechanisms behind these effects, the science of cellular health is paving the way for novel interventions aimed at promoting healthy aging and extending healthspan.
Below a round-up of some of the latest cellular health supplement science.
Pomegranate plus marigold extracts may boost NAD+ levels, mitochondrial health and physical performance
A study on the polyphenol-rich blend, BluNADBooster—which combines pomegranate extracts identified by Blue Helix and NXT USA—demonstrated significant improvements in mitochondrial health and NAD+ levels, essential for energy metabolism and healthy aging. As organisms age, NAD+ levels drop, which leads to a decrease in mitochondrial health; this in turn leads to age-related health issues.
The study, involving 140 healthy aging adults, found that BluNADBooster increased NAD+ levels by 26.5%, reduced CD38 enzyme activity by 18% and improved cognition and physical performance, outperforming nicotinamide riboside (NR) alone.
“The market has been waiting for an NAD⁺ solution that goes beyond precursors alone,” said Eric Anderson, managing director at NXT USA and CEO of Blue Helix Health. “BluNADBooster represents a next-generation approach—one that strengthens the body’s ability to generate and maintain healthy NAD⁺ levels while addressing the underlying mechanisms that cause NAD⁺ to decline with age. This study confirms what we’ve believed for years: Polyphenols matter, and they work in ways synthetic precursors cannot.”
Published in the Journal of Functional Foods, the study was conducted by scientists from four medical institutions in India and funded by Laila Nutra Pvt. Ltd.
Entrenching ergothioneine as longevity vitamin
Emerging research positions ergothioneine, a sulfur-based amino acid primarily found in mushrooms and fermented foods, as a potential longevity vitamin, essential for long-term health rather than short-term survival. A review led by Blue California highlights its role in protecting against age-related decline, supporting cognition, and systemic health, emphasizing the need for further long-term studies. The compound, actively transported in the body via the OCTN1 transporter, has been linked to improved cognitive performance and sleep quality and may support mitochondrial health and protect against oxidative stress. Despite its promising benefits, more research is needed to establish optimal dosing and its interaction with other nutrients.
Regarding the potential mechanisms at work, the review indicates that when ergothioneine accumulates in stress-prone tissues, it improves mitochondrial bioenergetics, reduces inflammation and enhances resilience to oxidative damage.
“Inside our cells, ergothioneine helps neutralize harmful free radicals, bind to excess metals like iron and copper and activate Nrf2, the body’s master switch for antioxidant defenses,” Dr. Linda May-Zhang, vice president of science & innovation at ergothioneine supplier Blue California and lead author on the paper. “It also helps protect mitochondria, the ‘powerhouses’ of our cells, to keep energy and function strong.”
Beyond these effects, she said that ergothioneine may also promote the growth and repair of brain cells, boost key brain-supporting factors such as BDNF and prevent the buildup of toxic proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging evidence points to roles in supporting NAD⁺ metabolism and activating sirtuins, enzymes that are vital for repair and longevity. Preclinical research suggests ergothioneine reduces telomere shortening, which may slow the aging process.
Review underscores ergothioneine’s anti-aging potential for cognitive function
Ergothioneine, an ‘under-recognized’ compound, may improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, according to a review that highlighted the ingredient’s potential in the emerging healthspan category.
Analysis of 19 studies, including cellular, animal and human clinical and observational studies published over the past 10 years, indicated that ergothioneine (ET) plays a role in neurotransmission and neuroprotection, thereby offering cognitive improvements.
The compound’s antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antisenescence properties were linked to its potential to slow age-related neurodegenerative disorders, according to scientists from Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.
Writing in Inflammopharmacology, the researchers said ergothioneine’s potential is “undeniable” but indicated that some key knowledge gaps remain, notably around the “optimal doses of ET for cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection… [and] the need to investigate the bioavailability of ET across different formulations, such as pure ET and dietary sources.”
Urolithin A may counteract age-related immune decline and inflammaging
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial has demonstrated that daily supplementation with MitoPure urolithin A from Swiss health science and longevity company can counteract age-related immune decline and inflammaging.
“Our data provide strong evidence that altering mitochondrial dynamics via the orally available and well-tolerated mitophagy inducer UA elicits systemic immune remodeling and potentially reduces the immune aging phenotype,” scientists from Goethe University Frankfurt, Amazentis (parent company of Timeline), GBG Forschungs GmbH, Aix Marseille University and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging wrote in the journal Nature Aging. “We therefore provide an intervention-based approach to limiting immune aging that may have potential to benefit chronic conditions characterized by immune dysfunction.”
Conducted over four weeks with middle-aged adults, the study found that the supplement increased naive CD8+ T cells and reduced inflammatory markers, while also enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis. The company Timeline is further exploring the supplement’s potential with a new clinical trial focusing on brain health.
Thyme and oregano compounds may activate autophagy and promote healthy aging
A study led by Nestlé Research highlighted that thymol and carvacrol, compounds found in thyme and oregano, can promote autophagy and mitophagy across various species, including zebrafish, nematodes and mice.
These herbal terpenoids have been shown to enhance resistance to heat stress, slow muscle decline and prevent fatty liver in older and obese mice, suggesting their potential in nutrition-based healthspan promotion.
The research underscores the importance of thymol and carvacrol in mimicking the benefits of caloric restriction and fasting, positioning them alongside other autophagy-linked bioactives. The findings reflect Nestlé’s strategic investment in healthspan research and its ongoing efforts to target cellular aging hallmarks.
“This study broadens the mechanistic understanding of the health benefits mediated by oregano and thyme terpenoids and shows a potential link between their functions as secondary metabolites in plants to effects on mitochondrial bioenergetics, autophagy and mitophagy in eukaryotic cells,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nature Aging.
“Thymol reaches high amounts in common oregano and thyme species and can be enriched in essential oregano oils making it a relatively simple to source and a cost-efficient ingredient for nutrition-based prevention, including as enhancers of autophagy-mediated benefits of CR [calorie restriction] and IF [intermittent fasting] regimens.”
L-theanine may be neuroprotective in sleep deprivation
A study published in Phytotherapy Research found that L-theanine, an amino acid in green tea, may protect against hippocampal ferroptosis, a form of cell death linked to cognitive deficits, in sleep-deprived mice.
Existing evidence indicates that sleep deprivation can stimulate ferroptosis in neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain linked to learning and memory. The hippocampus is “highly sensitive to iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation damage,” the researchers wrote.
The research showed that L-theanine reduced NOX4, a protein involved in oxidative stress, and protected neurons and mitochondria, enhancing learning and memory in mice. However, the study’s authors from Anhui University recommend further research to validate these findings in humans, acknowledging the limitations of their animal-based research.
Can pomegranate extract support healthy aging?
Daily supplementation with pomegranate extract may enhance healthy aging by modestly increasing insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, a hormone linked to cell growth and development that naturally declines with age.
A EuroMed-funded study involving 72 older adults demonstrated that while IGF-1 levels increased significantly in those taking the company’s Pomanox extract. Low levels of IGF-1 have been linked to increased oxidative stress and decreased muscle mass and bone mineral density, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, very high levels are also associated with negative effects on longevity, with studies showing that excessive levels can increase cancer risk.
This suggests there is a ‘Goldilocks’ zone of IGF-1 levels, according to Andrea Zangara, scientific communication advisor at EuroMed, with EuroMed’s pomegranate extract (marketed as Pomanox) promoting a potentially beneficial increase.
“The modest rise aligns with a physiological ‘sweet spot’, complementing other findings from the same trial: lower IL-6/IL-1β—or reduced inflammaging—reduced systolic blood pressure, and improved cognitive flexibility. Together, these point to a coordinated impact on multiple hallmarks of aging,” he said.
Seed’s DS-01 may boost metabolic, immune and cellular health
Seed Health’s DS-01 Daily Synbiotic has been shown in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to significantly boost the production of Urolithin A and butyrate, key metabolites linked to health benefits such as improved gut barrier integrity and reduced inflammation. The trial, presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025, involved 32 healthy adults and demonstrated that DS-01 also led to a decrease in the inflammatory biomarker CRP, highlighting its potential to influence immune pathways and support systemic health.
The synbiotic also increased the production of butyrate, a short chain fatty acid known to fuel the cells that line the colon and supports immune function, gut barrier integrity and metabolic signaling. A reduction in CRP was also reported.
“To our knowledge, this proof-of-mechanism trial is the first study to demonstrate that a broad-spectrum synbiotic is able to increase Uro-A, a key microbiome-dependent metabolite driving intestinal epithelial barrier and other biology,” the researchers wrote in their DDW abstract. “Mechanistically, this specific synbiotic enhances the abundance of Lactobacillus spp., which may be critical for production of Uro-A precursors.
Polyphenols show promise in modulating aging and cellular senescence
A review conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Gastroenterology Saverio de Bellis in Italy and published in Nutrients highlights the potential of polyphenols in modulating cellular senescence and their promise as senotherapeutics.
Polyphenols may influence age-related diseases and tissue homeostasis by downregulating inflammatory pathways and regulating cell death. The review mentioned multiple polyphenol compounds that may have potential in cellular senescence, including curcumin, genistein, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, hesperidin, naringenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, fisetin, procyanidin and gingerenone.
Given that low bioavailability and genetic variability affect their clinical application, the researchers called for innovative solutions to these pharmacokinetic issues and stressed the need for large clinical trials to ascertain the safety and efficacy of polyphenol-based therapies, noting that excessive intake of concentrated forms may pose health risks.
Scarlet beebalm extract may slow biological aging
Supplementation with an extract of scarlet beebalm may improve telomere length and stabilize DNA methylation age, according to a study from the University of Padua (Italy) and Mibelle Group Biochemistry.
Data published in GeroScience indicated that adults with self-reported stressful jobs consuming the extract of scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma L.) showed an increase in biological age of only 0.3 years compared to 1.8 years for those in the placebo group.
The extract, which is marketed as MonaJuventa Nu by Mibelle, was also found to reduce cortisol levels by 25% and improve measures of Quality of Life, compared to placebo, after 12 weeks of supplementation.
“Through extensive screening of various plants for epigenetic aging activity, we identified Monarda didyma as the most potent ingredient,” said Dr. Torsten Grothe, head of food and health at Mibelle Biochemistry and co-author on the new paper. “MonaJuventa Nu, rich in the anti-aging flavonoid didymin, stands out as the first botanical known to impact key aging processes, effectively countering nine of the twelve hallmarks of aging.”
Tuna byproduct shows promise for slowing cellular aging in women
A functional beverage containing a tuna-derived oil may improve brain function and slow cellular aging in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, according to a study from researchers at Khon Kaen University in Thailand.
Published in the journal Antioxidants, the research evaluated the effects of a DHA-enriched functional beverage containing soy protein, tuna oil, sunflower seed oil, ground black sesame and a vitamin B complex on the emerging link between cellular senescence and menopause-related cognitive decline.
“Our results suggest the potential of a functional beverage containing DHA-enriched tuna oil with respect to improving the cognition of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women,” they reported. “The mechanism responsible may depend on the dose of the functional beverage.”
Higher beta-carotene levels linked to younger biological age
Increasing levels of the carotenoid beta-carotenoid is associated with longer telomeres, a marker of biological age, in overweight and obese Americans, according to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
“Our study found that increasing serum carotenoid levels were significantly associated with longer telomere lengths in overweight or obese U.S. populations,” the Chinese researchers wrote. “The increase in carotenoid levels had a more significant effect on telomere length in obese individuals compared to overweight individuals.”
Interestingly, they did not find a relationship between carotenoids concentrations and telomere length in non-overweight or non-obese individuals. No benefits were associated with levels of alpha-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin and trans-lycopene.
Omega-3s may delay aging by ‘reprogramming energy metabolism’
Supplementation with omega-3s may help maintain energy metabolism to preserve the function of key organs and inhibit pathological age-related changes, all of which may help delay the aging process, according to a study from China.
Data from the mouse study showed that omega-3s, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular, may activate peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha), which plays an important role in a number of functions, including energy and lipid metabolism, inflammation, brain function and diabetes.
The fatty acids were also associated with elevations in the production of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source for tissues, reported scientists from Southern Medical University (Guangzhou), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou), and Guangdong University of Technology (Guangzhou).
“Our research confirms the anti-aging effects of omega-3 PUFAs in multiple organs and provides strong evidence to support the idea of daily supplementation of omega-3 PUFAs, with caution of effective forms and purity, to help healthy aging,” they wrote in Pharmacological Research.
