Mitochondrial health
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 22, 2026
What is mitochondrial health?
Mitochondrial health is a research and marketing phrase for how well mitochondria, the cell structures that convert nutrients into usable energy, are functioning, not a standardized clinical diagnosis. A 2023 aging framework lists mitochondrial dysfunction as one of twelve hallmarks of aging. One FDA-approved mitochondria-targeted drug exists, for a single rare disease.
What do mitochondria actually do?
Mitochondria "reside at the crossroads of catabolic and anabolic metabolism—the essence of life," and they "respond to intrinsic and extrinsic stresses" by signaling within cells and to other tissues, according to a 2024 review [1]. A 2023 paper proposing twelve hallmarks of aging lists "mitochondrial dysfunction" alongside genomic instability, telomere attrition and nine other hallmarks [2].
Has anything been shown to support mitochondrial function in people?
One randomized trial: 66 adults aged 65 to 90 took 1,000 mg of urolithin A or placebo daily for four months. Urolithin A "significantly improved muscle endurance," was "safe and well tolerated," but the improvements in six-minute walk distance and maximal ATP production in the hand muscle "were not significant" compared with placebo, and the authors said "future work is needed to confirm this finding" [3].
Is there an FDA-approved mitochondria-targeted drug?
Yes, but for one rare disease, not general health. Elamipretide, branded Forzinity, received FDA accelerated approval to improve muscle strength in patients with Barth syndrome; its label describes it as a mitochondrial cardiolipin binder [4]. That approval does not extend to mitochondrial health broadly, and continued approval depends on a confirmatory trial [4].
Related terms
Sources
- Suomalainen A, Nunnari J. Mitochondria at the crossroads of health and disease. Cell, 2024.
- López-Otín C et al. Hallmarks of aging, An expanding universe. Cell, 2023.
- Liu S et al. Effect of Urolithin A Supplementation on Muscle Endurance and Mitochondrial Health in Older Adults, A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 2022.
- Forzinity (elamipretide) Prescribing Information, DailyMed
This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
