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Urolithin A + Tributyrin: Gut Barrier and Mitochondrial Support

Published 2026-09-15 · Last reviewed 2026-09-16 · By Andy Palenzuela, Founder

Urolithin A is a compound formed when certain gut bacteria metabolize ellagitannins from foods such as pomegranate and walnuts. It has been studied in humans for its effects on mitochondrial-related biomarkers (Andreux 2019). Tributyrin is a stable triglyceride form of butyrate, the short-chain fatty acid that cells lining the colon use as their primary fuel.

Age Revive's CELLUBIOME pairs 500 mg of urolithin A with 500 mg of enteric-coated tributyrin in a 2-capsule daily serving. It is not a probiotic and contains no live bacteria. The Andreux study evaluated urolithin A alone — not tributyrin, and not the finished CELLUBIOME formula.

Key facts

  • Product: CELLUBIOME (Daily Gut-Mito Support)
  • Urolithin A: 500 mg per daily serving (≥99% purity)
  • Tributyrin: 500 mg per daily serving, enteric-coated
  • Probiotic?: No — no live bacteria
  • Human study cited: Andreux 2019 (Nature Metabolism) — urolithin A only
  • Study design: 60 sedentary adults aged 61–85; 250, 500, or 1,000 mg daily for 4 weeks; safety was the primary endpoint
  • Finished formula tested?: No — CELLUBIOME was not tested
  • Price: $110.00 one-time or $93.50/month with Subscribe & Save

What "gut-mito" means

The cells lining the colon (colonocytes) are unusual: they get most of their energy by oxidizing butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut bacteria, inside their mitochondria. Mitochondrial function and gut barrier function are therefore linked at the cellular level — the same cells that maintain the barrier depend on butyrate-fueled mitochondria to do it.

"Gut-mito" is Age Revive's shorthand for this interface. CELLUBIOME addresses it from two directions: urolithin A, which is studied for mitochondrial quality-control pathways, and tributyrin, which delivers butyrate to the intestine.

What urolithin A is

Urolithin A is not found in food directly. It is produced when gut bacteria transform ellagitannins and ellagic acid from pomegranate, berries, and nuts. Only a portion of people carry the bacterial species that perform this conversion efficiently, and the amount produced varies widely from person to person.

In laboratory research, urolithin A has been studied for its association with mitophagy — the process by which cells identify and recycle worn-out mitochondria. Supplemental urolithin A supplies the compound directly, independent of whether an individual's microbiome can make it.

What the Andreux 2019 study measured

Andreux 2019, published in Nature Metabolism, was a first-in-human randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 sedentary older adults aged 61 to 85. It had two phases: a single-dose phase and a 28-day phase in which participants took 250 mg, 500 mg, or 1,000 mg of urolithin A daily, or placebo.

The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability; urolithin A was reported as safe and well tolerated at all doses. Secondary and exploratory measures included plasma acylcarnitines, which decreased, and skeletal-muscle gene expression, where the authors reported a mitochondrial gene-expression signature at the 500 mg and 1,000 mg doses. The study did not report improvements in physical performance over the four weeks.

CELLUBIOME's 500 mg dose was chosen to align with the doses studied in this trial. The trial tested urolithin A as a single compound; it did not include tributyrin and did not test CELLUBIOME.

What tributyrin is and why enteric delivery

Butyrate itself is difficult to deliver as a supplement: it is volatile, has a strong odor, and butyrate salts are largely absorbed or degraded before reaching the lower intestine. Tributyrin is a triglyceride — three butyrate molecules bound to a glycerol backbone — that is stable in capsule form and releases butyrate when digestive lipases cleave it.

CELLUBIOME's capsules are enteric-coated so their contents pass through the stomach and release in the intestine, where both compounds are intended to act. Enteric protection is a formulation decision, not an ingredient.

Evidence for butyrate and gut barrier integrity comes mainly from cell and animal models; tributyrin-specific research includes in vitro digestion models. Age Revive does not cite human clinical-outcome trials for tributyrin in this context.

Why Age Revive pairs urolithin A with enteric tributyrin

Most gut supplements are probiotics: they add live bacterial strains. CELLUBIOME takes a different route. Instead of adding organisms, it supplies two defined compounds — one studied in humans for mitochondrial biomarkers, one that delivers the fuel colonocytes already use — at disclosed doses.

The formula is 500 mg urolithin A (≥99% purity) and 500 mg tributyrin, 2 capsules daily, 30 servings per bottle. Price: $110.00 one-time or $93.50/month with Subscribe & Save.

CELLUBIOME is formulated to support gut-barrier integrity and mitochondrial renewal pathways. It is a dietary supplement, not a drug. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

What the research does not show

Andreux 2019 was a four-week safety and biomarker study. It did not measure gut barrier function, digestive symptoms, disease outcomes, or long-term effects, and it did not show performance improvements at these doses over that period.

No human trial cited here tested urolithin A and tributyrin together, and none tested CELLUBIOME. Findings for a single compound do not transfer automatically to a two-compound formula.

CELLUBIOME is not intended to treat any digestive or metabolic condition. People with medical conditions or who take medication should consult a healthcare professional before use.

How to evaluate a urolithin A supplement

Questions worth asking of any urolithin A product, including this one:

  • How many milligrams of urolithin A are in a daily serving, and does that match a dose used in published human research (250–1,000 mg in Andreux 2019)?
  • Is purity stated, and is third-party testing for identity and contaminants described?
  • If other ingredients are included, is their evidence described separately and honestly?
  • Does the brand say whether its finished product has been tested, or only the ingredient?
  • Is the product a probiotic, a postbiotic, or neither? CELLUBIOME is neither — it contains no organisms and no fermentation-derived preparations.

Frequently asked questions

Did Andreux 2019 test CELLUBIOME? No. Andreux 2019 tested urolithin A as a single compound at 250 mg, 500 mg, and 1,000 mg daily for four weeks in 60 sedentary older adults. It did not test CELLUBIOME, which combines 500 mg of urolithin A with 500 mg of enteric-coated tributyrin. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Was tributyrin part of the Andreux 2019 study? No. The Andreux 2019 trial evaluated urolithin A only. Tributyrin's inclusion in CELLUBIOME is based on butyrate's role as the primary fuel of colon cells and on cell, animal, and in vitro digestion research — not on a human clinical-outcome trial. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Can the body make urolithin A on its own? Some people can. Urolithin A is produced when specific gut bacteria metabolize ellagitannins from foods like pomegranate, berries, and walnuts. Not everyone carries those bacteria, and production varies widely between individuals. Supplemental urolithin A supplies the compound directly.

Why is the tributyrin in CELLUBIOME enteric-coated? So the capsule contents pass through the stomach and release in the intestine, where urolithin A and tributyrin are intended to act. Tributyrin is a stable triglyceride form of butyrate that releases butyrate when cleaved by digestive lipases; enteric coating is a delivery decision, not an ingredient. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Why 500 mg Urolithin A? The Andreux et al. study (Nature Metabolism, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s42255-019-0073-4) evaluated 500 mg and 1,000 mg of urolithin A daily for 4 weeks in older adults; mitochondrial gene-expression measures were secondary outcomes. CELLUBIOME uses 500 mg, but the study did not test the finished CELLUBIOME formula. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How is CELLUBIOME different from a probiotic? CELLUBIOME is not a probiotic. Probiotics add live bacteria. CELLUBIOME pairs urolithin A with enteric tributyrin to support gut-barrier integrity and mitochondrial renewal — two pathways most probiotic blends do not address.

Sources

  1. Andreux PA, Blanco-Bose W, Ryu D, et al. The mitophagy activator urolithin A is safe and induces a molecular signature of improved mitochondrial and cellular health in humans. Nature Metabolism. 2019;1:595–603. doi:10.1038/s42255-019-0073-4. PMID 32694802.

Related reading

  • What Is Urolithin A? Mitophagy, Your Microbiome, and What Human Trials Measured — Urolithin A is a gut-derived metabolite studied for supporting mitophagy, the process cells use to recycle worn-out mitochondria.
  • The Gut-Mitochondria Axis: Why Your Gut Lining and Your Cellular Engine Run on the Same Loop — Most "gut health" products describe the gut as a tube full of bacteria and stop there.
  • Tributyrin vs Sodium Butyrate: Why Delivery Decides What Reaches Your Gut — Sodium butyrate and tributyrin deliver butyrate differently. This comparison explains their chemistry, delivery, and what the research actually measured.
  • Urolithin A vs Probiotics: Two Different Jobs in the Gut — Probiotics address bacteria in the gut; urolithin A is a metabolite studied for its role in mitochondria. They address two different problems.

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About the author

Andy Palenzuela is the founder of Age Revive and has 14+ years of experience in regulated nutrition supply chains, including manufacturing oversight, ingredient sourcing, and quality assurance for consumer health products. Age Revive formulas are developed based on published peer-reviewed research and manufactured at cGMP-certified facilities. LinkedIn

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.