PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Antioxidant and Cytoprotectant:
L-ET is considered an excellent physiological cytoprotectant, and its ability to quench reactive molecules is extensively
documented.2,3 In vitro and in vivo work demonstrates numerous important antioxidant-related effects.5 Notably, L-ET
has been shown to decrease the rate of oxidative stress–induced telomere shortening, which has implications for human
longevity research.6 In addition, decreases in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage suggest that L-ET is a genomic
stabilizer.7 Maintenance of cellular-reduced glutathione levels and induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated antioxidant genes have
also been demonstrated.3,8 The unique antioxidant and cytoprotective mechanisms of L-ET make it an interesting candidate
for longevity support, exercise performance, and many oxidative stress–related conditions.*3,9
Neurologic System Support:
In the central nervous system, L-ET crosses the blood–brain barrier and is neuroprotective.2,5 Blood levels of L-ET
decline with age, and a faster decline is observed in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.1,2 The results of a crosssectional
study (N = 496) correlated low levels of L-ET with dementia severity and suggested that serum L-ET could be
a potential biomarker associated with cognitive impairment. Furthermore, neuroimaging showed that lower L-ET levels
were significantly associated with cortical thinning and decreased hippocampal volumes.10 In other research, animal study
outcomes suggest that L-ET improves stress-related sleep disorders and relieves depressive-like behaviors.11,12 In a 2022
double-blind, randomized clinical trial of individuals (N = 95) with reported high anxiety and sleep complaints, 20 mg/d of
ergothioneine for 4 weeks reduced sleep difficulties, including frequency of waking.*13

In vitro work in cells from healthy human donors showed the high cellular bioavailability of MitoPrime as noted by its accumulation in red blood cells with antioxidant properties left intact.14 MitoPrime also showed strong antioxidant activity, protected cell viability, imparted cytokine-modulating and immune-support effects, significantly enhanced mitochondrial function, and substantially improved cellular energy production under oxidative stress conditions.14 In irradiated human keratinocytes, 30 μM of MitoPrime slightly protected and increased the expression of genes (ie, Nrf2 regulated) involved in oxidative and cellular stress responses.15 Studies involving Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated significant dose-dependent increases in lifespan and changes in the expression of genes associated with insulin response, energy metabolism, and longevity pathways (eg, autophagy).16 MitoPrime also slowed degeneration in a C elegans strain expressing amyloid beta in body muscles without negatively affecting its reproduction or development.17 In a 2021 multi-case clinical report, subjects taking 25 mg/d of MitoPrime exhibited a 13% to 146% increase in total glutathione from baseline to day 30.*18