Writing in Cell Metabolism, they reported that a single oral dose of S1PC-enriched garlic powder increased circulating levels of extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) in healthy middle-aged individuals with healthy fat mass.
“These findings demonstrate that S1PC specifically stimulates the LKB1-SIRT1 pathway and enhances eNAMPT secretion in white adipose tissue (WAT), counteracting skeletal muscle aging in aged individuals,” the authors wrote.
While the findings remain early-stage, they add to growing interest in ingredients targeting healthy aging, mobility and sarcopenia, particularly as supplement companies continue to invest in science-backed longevity formulations.
Researchers identify new pathway linked to muscle function
Beyond the muscle findings themselves, researchers said the study uncovered a previously unknown biological pathway that may help explain how the compound works.
According to the paper, S1PC stimulated eNAMPT secretion from white adipose tissue. Rather than acting directly on skeletal muscle, the signaling compound appeared to target the hypothalamus, which then influenced muscle function.
“Remarkably, eNAMPT secreted from WAT specifically targets the hypothalamus, but not skeletal muscle,” the researchers wrote.
The authors suggested that this adipose-brain-muscle signaling pathway may help explain the improvements in muscle function observed in aged mice.
By enhancing eNAMPT secretion from adipose tissue, “S1PC can significantly improve skeletal muscle force and reduce FI score in aged mice,” the researchers reported. As defined in a 2020 paper published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an FI (Frailty Index) score “measures an individual’s cumulative health deficits, such as chronic diseases, disabilities, and symptoms.“
The FI score is significant in healthcare as it assists physicians in estimating ”a patient’s biological age and vulnerability to stressors, predicting their risk of complications, hospital readmissions or mortality."
The S1PC study also identified, as the authors described, a previously unreported mechanism involving the activation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and SIRT1 signaling.
“In this study, we demonstrate that S1PC, one of the bioactive constituents in AGE, shows a previously unidentified effect,” the researchers wrote.
Healthy aging market continues to grow
The publication comes as healthy aging remains one of the supplement industry’s fastest-growing categories, with increasing interest in ingredients targeting muscle preservation, mobility and longevity-related pathways. For example, analysts in McKinsey & Company’s 2025 Future of Wellness survey noted that “up to 60 percent of consumers across markets report that healthy aging is a ‘top’ or ‘very important’ priority.”
In the introduction to the paper, the researchers noted that evidence-based interventions to extend healthspan are becoming increasingly important as the global population ages.
“Developing evidence-based anti-aging interventions is now becoming an urgent goal to deal with worldwide populational aging, providing hope to delay aging and extend healthspan in our rapidly aging societies,” the researchers wrote.
The paper similarly positioned S1PC alongside other nutraceutical compounds being studied for their effects on NAD+ biology, including nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR).
According to the researchers, combining S1PC with NMN further enhanced eNAMPT secretion in aged mice.
“Because the combination of S1PC and NMN further enhanced eNAMPT secretion in aged mice, it will also be very interesting to test the same combination in humans,” they wrote.
Human findings remain preliminary
The human portion of the study involved healthy middle-aged individuals who received a single oral dose of S1PC-enriched garlic powder.
According to the paper, circulating eNAMPT levels increased in participants who maintained healthy adipose mass.
The researchers said additional human studies will be needed to determine whether the observed biological effects translate into measurable improvements in muscle strength or frailty markers in older adults.
“Given that S1PC increases circulating eNAMPT levels in individuals who maintain healthy levels of adiposity, it will be very important to examine whether S1PC-stimulated eNAMPT-EV secretion could improve skeletal muscle strength and/or FIs in the elderly,” the researchers wrote.
Commenting on the findings, Wakunaga of America President Ryuichi Sakamoto said in a company press release that the study could impact aging populations increasingly focused on mobility and independence.
“These observations could be a game changer for millions of American seniors, particularly since research consistently links sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) to increased all-cause and cause-specific mortality,” Sakamoto said.
“Many see muscle retention as the currency of aging,” he noted.
He further added that “the findings that this novel bioactive compound, which is also found in Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract (AGE), could help prevent muscle depletion and the resulting frailty associated with aging can be of significant importance to healthspan.”
Source: Cell Metabolism, 2026. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2026.04.006. “Garlic-derived metabolite activates LKB1, promotes adipose eNAMPT secretion, and improves age-related muscle function via hypothalamic signaling.” Authors: J. Suzuki, et al.
