Dr. Singh and Dr. Hyman Discuss Mitochondria and Longevity

A leading functional medicine physician and a renowned immunology expert walk into a room. The result? A hit podcast episode centered around cellular health.

Dr. Anurag Singh, immunologist and Chief Medical Officer at Timeline, recently joined Dr. Mark Hyman on The Doctor’s Farmacy podcast. They discussed the role of mitochondria in aging and the promising future of Mitopure as a therapeutic tool.

Dr. Hyman is a renowned functional medicine physician and 15x New York Times bestselling author. Dr. Hyman also founded the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and serves as the Board President for Clinical Affairs for the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Here’s a summary of the important points they discussed on the latest podcast.

Mitochondria: The Cellular Engines of Longevity

Right from the start, Dr. Hyman establishes that when it comes to wellness, your mitochondria are the main character. He emphasizes the importance of mitochondrial health for essentially every organ system of our body.

Dr. Hyman: “We're going to talk about one of the most important things that almost nobody really understands today in terms of your health, longevity, well-being, energy, brain function, immune health, and pretty much everything. It comes down to [our mitochondria].”

Dr. Hyman: “Mitochondria are probably one of the most important things you need to pay attention to if you want to live a healthy and long life.”

As Dr. Singh explains, mitochondria are responsible for turning food and oxygen into usable energy (ATP). But over time, lifestyle factors contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction. The result? Fatigue, slower recovery, inflammation, cognitive decline, and accelerated aging.

Dr. Singh: “When you look at a 70-year-old who’s exercising versus a sedentary one, the difference often comes down to mitochondrial function.”

Dr. Singh discusses how mitochondrial decline is not just a symptom of aging; it’s a driver. Mitochondrial dysfunction is now recognized as a core hallmark of aging.^[1] He explains how these organelles are central to the manifestation of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, sarcopenia, and even mood disorders.

Dr. Hyman: “Mental health is now an area of deep research around mitochondria and cognitive function, not just things like dementia, but autism is found to have been really in part, driven by mitochondrial dysfunction. In these kids, they have a brain energy deficit.”

The Mitochondria-Inflammation Connection

Mitochondria and inflammation are two sides of the same coin. Damaged mitochondria leak free radicals, which trigger chronic inflammation. In turn, that inflammation further damages mitochondria, creating a vicious cycle.^[2]

Dr. Singh: “Every time we improved mitochondrial health, the inflammation levels were lower in these folks. Whether they were 80-year-olds, whether they were overweight, obese individuals, or even athletes.”

From dealing with burnout, experiencing menopausal fatigue, or even overtraining, you may be stuck in a mitochondria-inflammation loop. And breaking it could be the key to better health.

Mitochondria and Metabolic Health

Dr. Singh and Dr. Hyman agreed on the significance of metabolic health for overall well-being, with Dr. Hyman highlighting the key role of our mitochondria in this process.

Dr. Hyman: “When we say metabolic, what we're talking about actually is mitochondria.”

Dr. Singh: “I think today we are in the midst of a metabolic crisis, and I think the answer to a lot of that reversal and prevention lies in mitochondrial health and reversing the mitochondrial health of the population.”

They highlight how mitochondria are responsible for insulin sensitivity, fat burning, and glucose metabolism. Optimizing their performance could be the key to reversing metabolic dysfunction and preventing age-related diseases.

Testing Your Mitochondrial Health

Sadly, you can’t stroll into your clinic and request a “mitochondria panel.” While tools exist to measure mitochondrial function in lab settings, there is not yet a tool that doctors and healthcare practitioners can use in their everyday practice. For example, Dr. Singh’s clinical trials use muscle biopsies and ATP recovery scans to track mitochondrial performance over time.

However, functional markers of mitochondrial performance do exist, and some might be good predictors of lifespan.

Dr. Hyman: “We'll do, for example, V02 max testing…as an indirect way of looking at your mitochondrial function… is one of the best predictors of longevity in a linear way. The higher the number, the more fit you are.”

The Three Mechanisms to Improve Mitochondrial Health

Not all mitochondrial support targets the same biological pathways. Dr. Singh breaks down the three different cellular mechanisms that can enhance mitochondrial performance and cellular energy.

• Biogenesis: creating new mitochondria. This can be done through regular exercise or even supplements such as NAD boosters and resveratrol.
• Efficiency: enhancing the existing performance of the mitochondria. Nutrients like creatine, L-carnitine, and CoQ10 play vital roles in the mitochondrial energy cycle.
• Mitophagy: mitochondrial recycling. The body’s way of clearing out old or damaged mitochondria so that only the healthiest ones remain.

This third pathway, mitophagy, has been gathering a lot of attention in the longevity world.

Urolithin A to Stimulate Mitophagy

Where Timeline and Dr. Singh’s work truly shines is in the discovery, isolation, and clinical validation of Urolithin A.

Urolithin A is a postbiotic compound naturally produced by select gut bacteria when they metabolize polyphenols found in foods like pomegranates, walnuts, and berries. This nutrient activates mitophagy in the cell: the body's built-in process of identifying and removing damaged mitochondria so healthy ones can thrive.^[3]

But there’s a catch: most people don’t produce Urolithin A.

Less than 40% of the people in North America can naturally produce Urolithin A.^[4] And Dr. Singh points out that in some countries, like India, the rate is as low as 5%, likely due to widespread antibiotic use.

This is where Timeline’s innovation comes in. Using cutting-edge technology and over 15 years of clinical research, the team developed Mitopure®: a bioavailable form of Urolithin A. Your cells get the benefit, even if your microbiome can’t deliver.

Mitopure: A Breakthrough Nutrient for Mitochondrial Renewal

Mitopure is a pure, bioavailable form of Urolithin A, clinically proven to promote mitophagy.

Dr. Hyman: “You're saying that you could take this compound that's made by bacteria as a supplement, and without ever getting up off the couch, just by taking this you're going to see about a 10% improvement in strength in cardiovascular fitness and a reduction in inflammation?”

Dr. Singh’s team has spent over 15 years studying Mitopure, publishing numerous peer-reviewed, randomized clinical trials. Some of the most compelling findings include:

• 12% increase in strength, without the need for additional exercise^[5]
• Reduced markers of inflammation, including drops in CRP and TNF-α^[6]
• Improved VO2 max (as compared to baseline), a gold-standard measure of mitochondrial fitness^[7]
• Lower levels of toxic ceramides, which are linked to heart disease^[8]

Dr. Singh: “Twenty years back, when I was training as a physician immunologist, I didn't think that medicine would bring me to a state where suddenly, by reversing your immune health with a mitochondrial nutrient.”

Dr. Hyman: “Over time, over a few months, it's basically like exercise in a pill.”

Why Mitopure Works

Dr. Hyman and Dr. Singh discuss the world of mitochondrial supplements. While nutrients like CoQ10, creatine, and NAD precursors support mitochondrial function, they may not be as effective if the mitochondria are already damaged. And mitochondrial damage is happening, just by the simple fact that we age every day.

Dr. Singh: “It's a natural molecule evolutionary… this molecule is different from all the NAD boosters or CoQ10 because those can only work if you take the damaged [mitochondria] out from the real estate.”

Dr. Singh is describing Mitopure as a cellular cleanup crew, clearing out the debris so other interventions can work better. This makes it a powerful partner to other longevity strategies like fasting, exercise, or NAD+ precursors.

Dr. Hyman also takes an opportunity to highlight Timeline’s science-first commitment.

Dr. Hyman: “Most supplement companies don’t invest millions into clinical research, which you guys have done.”

That’s what sets Timeline apart. Mitopure isn’t just backed by theory; it’s backed by placebo-controlled human trials published in top-tier journals.

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Topically Applied Mitopure for Skin

While oral Mitopure supports whole-body health, Timeline has also taken mitochondrial science directly to the skin.

Dr. Singh: “There’s a great appreciation of mitochondria in the skin. Skin is one of the organs that receives the most external insult from harmful sun rays, pollution, etc. So it's under so much stress.”

Topically applied 1% Mitopure® was found to visibly combat signs of aging, starting in the cell. Mitopure was shown to:

• Improve mitochondrial signatures in the skin^[9]
• Increase the expression of genes associated with collagen production^[10]
• Reduce inflammatory enzymes (MMPs) that degrade skin structure^[11]
• Improve hydration and elasticity over time^[12]

Dr. Singh: “We now see some great [skincare] data that we're getting ready to publish, but the topical products are a big hit.”

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If energy is the currency of life, your mitochondria are the mint. Leading experts like Dr. Hyman believe that supporting mitophagy and mitochondrial function with Mitopure is a smart place to start.