Urolithin A Supplementation During Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients With COPD

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a central standard of care intervention for chronic disease management in patients with COPD. Urolithin A is a natural health product found in berries, pomegranates, and nuts. Urolithin A is approved by the FDA and Health Canada, but no study to date has investigated whether taking Urolithin A improves outcomes in patients with COPD. In previous studies in people without COPD, Urolithin A has been found to stimulate the cellular process known as mitophagy, improving the function of mitochondria, as well as functional capacity. In patients with COPD, it is therefore possible that Urolithin A may lead to improved exercise capacity and muscle strength. Urolithin A, in combination with pulmonary rehabilitation, may lead to a greater benefit in patients with COPD in terms of exercise capacity and other important health outcomes than pulmonary rehabilitation alone. Patients with COPD participating in a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program are being recruited for this study. Study participants will be randomly assigned and provided either with Urolithin A or with a visually identical placebo, to be taken every day during the 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. Study outcomes will then be compared between the Urolithin A group and the placebo group.