A natural compound produced by the body from consuming berries and nuts may reverse life-threatening damage associated with heart failure, a new study from King's College London suggests. The compound, known as urolithin A, has previously been linked to anti-aging effects.
In the study, animals with heart failure that were administered urolithin A experienced an improvement in heart function of up to 80 percent. Researchers noted that urolithin A appears to help relax heart muscles and prevent the formation of scar tissue, a common issue in heart failure.
This discovery could pave the way for new treatments for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a form of the condition where the heart muscle stiffens and cannot fill properly with blood. This particular type of heart failure affects approximately 920,000 people in Britain, and more than half of those diagnosed die within five years due to a lack of effective treatments.
Urolithin A is generated when gut bacteria break down polyphenols, plant compounds abundant in foods such as pomegranates, walnuts, and various berries. The compound was also tested on human heart tissue in a laboratory setting, where it reportedly had a beneficial effect.
While scientists are exploring the development of a drug based on urolithin A, they also suggest that patients could consider increasing their intake of polyphenol-rich foods. Dr. Joseph Burgoyne, a senior author of the study, stated that although there is not yet enough evidence to recommend pomegranates specifically for heart failure treatment, these findings indicate that diets promoting urolithin A production might help alleviate the condition.