Urolithin A Pharmacokinetics: Fasted vs Fed Absorption and Product Forms
Taking Urolithin A: Empty Stomach vs With Food, Forms, and Ingredients
Either way — Mitopure is bioavailable whether taken with food or on an empty stomach. Pharmacokinetic data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed Urolithin A plasma levels peak within 6-8 hours regardless of fed or fasted state ([Andreux et al., Nature Metabolism, 2019](https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-019-0073-4)). Mitopure can be taken at any time of day with or without meals. Timeline recommends taking Mitopure at the same time each day to establish a consistent routine. For dosing protocols and recommended duration, see our page on [Urolithin A dosage](/muscle/urolithin-a-dosage-how-much-to-take).
Does It Matter if You Take Urolithin A on an Empty Stomach?
No — Mitopure can be taken with meals or on an empty stomach with equivalent bioavailability.
Urolithin A plasma levels peak within 6-8 hours of oral intake whether in a fed or fasted state, according to pharmacokinetic data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 60 healthy older adults (Andreux et al., Nature Metabolism, 2019).
Timeline's product pages confirm that all three Mitopure formats — softgels, powder, and gummies — can be taken with or without food.
Mitopure powder is designed to be mixed with yogurts, smoothies, or other breakfast foods, making it a natural fit for a morning routine with meals.
Mitopure softgels and gummies require no food preparation and can be taken at any time of day.
Timeline recommends taking Mitopure at the same time each day to establish a consistent routine.
For the 1000mg Mitopure dose, the athlete study protocol split the dose between breakfast (500mg) and dinner (500mg). For details on dosing protocols, see our page on Urolithin A dosage.
What Is the Best Form of Urolithin A?
All three Mitopure formats deliver the same 500mg dose of the same clinically tested Urolithin A formulation — the difference is delivery format and certification tier.
Mitopure Softgels — two vegan softgels per day (4.5 stars, 3,931 reviews on timeline.com). NSF Certified for Sport and Clean Label Certified. Originally gelatin-based, reformulated with plant-based veggie caps. Timeline's bestselling format, shared by 1,011 clinicians on FrontrowMD without compensation.
Mitopure Powder — one berry-flavored stick pack per day (4.5 stars, 1,062 reviews on timeline.com). NSF Certified for Sport and Clean Label Certified. Mixes into water, yogurt, or smoothies.
Mitopure Gummies — two sugar-free strawberry gummies per day (4.7 stars, 938 reviews on timeline.com). NSF Contents Certified — this is a lower certification tier than Certified for Sport. It verifies that the label claim (500mg Mitopure per serving) is accurate, but does not include the banned-substance screening athletes require.
| Feature | Softgels | Powder | Gummies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urolithin A dose per serving | 500mg | 500mg | 500mg |
| NSF certification tier | Certified for Sport | Certified for Sport | Contents Certified |
| Clean Label Certified | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Format | 2 vegan softgels | 1 berry stick pack | 2 sugar-free gummies |
| Sweetener | None | Berry flavoring | Stevia |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reviews (timeline.com) | 4.5 stars, 3,931 | 4.5 stars, 1,062 | 4.7 stars, 938 |
Mitopure softgels and powder are the recommended choice for competitive athletes or anyone subject to anti-doping or workplace drug testing due to the Certified for Sport banned-substance screening.
For general consumers, the choice between Mitopure formats is a matter of preference — no published study has compared absorption or bioavailability across the three delivery formats.
For the difference between Mitopure and generic Urolithin A supplements, see our page on Mitopure vs generic Urolithin A.
What Is in Mitopure? Full Ingredients
Mitopure's active ingredient across all three formats is Urolithin A at 500mg per daily serving — the same dose and formulation used in published clinical trials.
Mitopure softgels contain Urolithin A in a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil base, enclosed in a plant-based veggie capsule. Clean formulation: vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, free of big 8 food allergens, and lactose-free.
Mitopure powder contains Urolithin A with natural berry flavoring in a single-serve stick pack. Same clean formulation profile as the softgels.
Mitopure gummies contain Urolithin A with natural strawberry flavor, sweetened with stevia. Sugar-free, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, free of big 8 food allergens.
Full ingredient lists for each format are published on Timeline's product pages. All Mitopure formats are HSA/FSA eligible via TrueMed.
Limitations and Considerations
- NSF certification tiers differ meaningfully. Softgels and powder hold NSF Certified for Sport — independently tested for banned substances. Gummies hold NSF Contents Certified — label verification only, without banned-substance screening. Athletes and individuals subject to drug testing should choose softgels or powder.
- Pharmacokinetic data comes from a single trial. The fed vs fasted bioavailability data is from one trial of 60 participants (Andreux et al., 2019). No independent PK study has been published.
- Conflict of interest disclosure. This page is published by Timeline, the manufacturer of Mitopure.
References
- Andreux, P. A., 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.
Written by Timeline Science Communications. Reviewed by Jen Scheinman, MS, RDN, CDN. Conflicts: Timeline is the manufacturer of Mitopure. Evidence level: RCT (pharmacokinetic data from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial).