Ursolic acid: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
UA
Family or group:
Phytochemicals
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Sports performance ✪✪✪✪✪
An increase in IRSINE levels, which is thought to be involved in the physiology of skeletal muscles, was observed in a clinical study conducted in athletes to measure muscle strength following ursolic acid supplementation. In a clinical trial, the combination of ursolic acid supplementation (450 mg/day) with resistance training for a period of 8 weeks increased muscle strength and levels of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) compared with training alone, although the authors did not observe significant gains in lean body mass, i.e., body mass without fat.
Posologie
Oral
450 mg
Adults
dry extract
Muscular dystrophy ✪✪✪✪✪
Research has shown that ursolic acid could serve as a therapeutic intervention against age-related muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Studies have also demonstrated that it substantially improved skeletal muscle mass and grip strength in rodents. rnrnA similar study found that ursolic acid increased the number of satellite cells and activated myoglobin expression in aged mice, suggesting that it positively altered skeletal muscle renewal by stimulating protein synthesis and suppressing atrophy factors. rnrnOther studies have reported that ursolic acid ameliorated skeletal muscle atrophy by inhibiting pathways associated with muscle wasting. These include the MuRF-1 and atrogin-1 pathways, two key mediators of protein degradation in skeletal muscles.rnrnIt has also been shown that ursolic acid increased skeletal muscle hypertrophy by enhancing secretion of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).rnrnFinally, it was shown that a 12-week treatment with ursolic acid improved skeletal muscle strength and mass in a dose-dependent manner via upregulation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and downregulation of skeletal muscle atrophy markers such as Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1.rnrn
Posologie
Orally
400 mg
7 - days
Seniors
dry extract
Identification and Small Molecule Inhibition of an Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4)-dependent Pathway to Age-related Skeletal Muscle Weakness and Atrophy
Ursolic acid increases skeletal muscle and brown fat and decreases diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease.
Ursolic acid in health and disease
Ursolic acid ameliorates the aging-metabolic phenotype by promoting skeletal muscle rejuvenation.
Apple Pomace Extract Improves Endurance in Exercise Performance by Increasing Strength and Weight of Skeletal Muscle.
mRNA expression signatures of human skeletal muscle atrophy identify a natural compound that increases muscle mass.
Weight control ✪✪✪✪✪
According to a study, ursolic acid at 100 mg/kg in rats appears to attenuate the increase in triglycerides in response to a fatty meal, which is thought to occur through inhibition of pancreatic lipase. An equivalent human dose is estimated at 160 mg/kg.
Posologie
Oral
160 mg
12 weeks
Adults
dry extract
Properties
Metabolic
In an in vivo study, it was reported that ursolic acid reduces adipocyte growth while stimulating fat burning. In fact, researchers showed that ursolic acid increases energy expenditure (thermogenesis) by stimulating the growth of brown adipose tissue while inhibiting the growth of white adipose tissue. Thus, researchers found that dietary supplementation with ursolic acid was able to inhibit body weight gain in the mice studied. However, further research is still needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Usages associés
Anticancer
Ursolic acid exerts most of its anticancer effects by regulating apoptosis-related factors, which leads to reduced proliferation and angiogenesis, thereby preventing the formation of cancerous tumors and metastases.
Anti-inflammatory
Ursolic acid has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase and COX-2.
Safe dosage
Adults aged 18 or older: 150 mg - 450 mg
