June 29, 2025

#168 | Mito Boosters: Methylene Blue & Urolithin A | Richard LaFountain, Phd & Brandon Fell, MS

1 hour 3 minutes

Professional Supplements for Wise Athletes (click to see the discount)

About the guests: Richard LaFountain, PhD & Brandon Fell, MS

Clinical Staff at Healthspan (gethealthspan.com)

Rich LaFountain, PhD - Health coach and science writer; his academic and research focus centers on metabolic health, cardiovascular physiology, and the optimization of physical performance through dietary and exercise interventions.

Education: Ph.D. in Kinesiology from The Ohio State University; Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College at Brockport, State University of New York.

Research: His academic and research focus centers on metabolic health, cardiovascular physiology, and the optimization of physical performance through dietary and exercise interventions.

Current Role: Senior Scientist on Healthspan's clinical staff

Brandon Fell, MS - Wellness Coach, with expertise in keto nutrition, clinical research, and longevity science.

Education: M.S. in Kinesiology (OSU, 2020); Dietetic Internship with rotations through Volek’s lab.

Research: Graduate Research Associate in Dr. Jeff Volek’s ketogenic diet studies; major controlled trials.

Current Role: Head of Metabolic Coaching at Healthspan

Episode Summary:

In my followup chat with Healthspan, we talk about Methylene Blue and Urolithin A, the darlings of the mitochondrial boosting party set.

Healthspan offers both supplements as a part of its suite of longevity and healthspan offerings.

Methylene Blue is very edgy, so I wanted to understand how Healthspan came to believe it was safe for their clients/patients (I take Methylene Blue)

Urolithin A is very new and somewhat controversial. I wanted to know how Healthspan came to believe it was effective (I take Urolithin A).

Some important notes:

Webinar for healthspan onboarding

gethealthspan.com

What is it, and how it is used in medicine?

Why does Healthspan believe it is a useful supplement to use chronically?

What are the targeted symptoms and effects of MB? Dosing? Take regularly or only when symptoms arise? How long to feel an effect?

Does it help athletic performance? (I found it makes exercise feel harder)

What are the side effects to be cautious of?

Who should not take MB?

Urolithin A

What is it, and why do people need to supplement it?

Why would a bacteria post biotic signal the mitochondria to scavenge old mitochondria? Is it similar to an internally made chemical used for the same purpose?

I’ve heard a lot of marketing of Urolithin A by the company that patented its delivery mechanism, and I’ve heard scientists say there is no real proof it works.

What did Healthspan uncover to prompt it to offer it?

What are the targeted symptoms and effects of UA? Dosing? Take regularly or only when symptoms arise? How long to feel an effect?

Does it help athletic performance?

What are the side effects to be cautious of?

Who should not take UA?

Related episodes & links:

Urolithin A -- Nature Paper

Episode 128 | Mitochondrial Powerup w/Methylene Blue | Dr Scott Sherr

Episode 144 | Muscle for Athletic Healthspan | Mark Tarnopolsky MD PhD

Help the show:

3 ways to support our show:

Leave a review (or share this episode)

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Email us your questions at [email protected].

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

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June 29, 2025

#168 | Mito Boosters: Methylene Blue & Urolithin A | Richard LaFountain, Phd & Brandon Fell, MS

1 hour 3 minutes

Professional Supplements for Wise Athletes (click to see the discount)

About the guests: Richard LaFountain, PhD & Brandon Fell, MS

Clinical Staff at Healthspan (gethealthspan.com)

Education: Ph.D. in Kinesiology from The Ohio State University; Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College at Brockport, State University of New York.

Research: His academic and research focus centers on metabolic health, cardiovascular physiology, and the optimization of physical performance through dietary and exercise interventions.

Current Role: Senior Scientist on Healthspan's clinical staff

Brandon Fell, MS - Wellness Coach, with expertise in keto nutrition, clinical research, and longevity science.

Education: M.S. in Kinesiology (OSU, 2020); Dietetic Internship with rotations through Volek’s lab.

Research: Graduate Research Associate in Dr. Jeff Volek’s ketogenic diet studies; major controlled trials.

Current Role: Head of Metabolic Coaching at Healthspan

Episode Summary:

In my followup chat with Healthspan, we talk about Methylene Blue and Urolithin A, the darlings of the mitochondrial boosting party set.

Healthspan offers both supplements as a part of its suite of longevity and healthspan offerings.

Methylene Blue is very edgy, so I wanted to understand how Healthspan came to believe it was safe for their clients/patients (I take Methylene Blue)

Urolithin A is very new and somewhat controversial. I wanted to know how Healthspan came to believe it was effective (I take Urolithin A).

Some important notes:

Webinar for healthspan onboarding

gethealthspan.com

What is it, and how it is used in medicine?

Why does Healthspan believe it is a useful supplement to use chronically?

What are the targeted symptoms and effects of MB? Dosing? Take regularly or only when symptoms arise? How long to feel an effect?

Does it help athletic performance? (I found it makes exercise feel harder)

What are the side effects to be cautious of?

Who should not take MB?

Urolithin A

What is it, and why do people need to supplement it?

Why would a bacteria post biotic signal the mitochondria to scavenge old mitochondria? Is it similar to an internally made chemical used for the same purpose?

I’ve heard a lot of marketing of Urolithin A by the company that patented its delivery mechanism, and I’ve heard scientists say there is no real proof it works.

What did Healthspan uncover to prompt it to offer it?

What are the targeted symptoms and effects of UA? Dosing? Take regularly or only when symptoms arise? How long to feel an effect?

Does it help athletic performance?

What are the side effects to be cautious of?

Who should not take UA?

Related episodes & links:

Urolithin A -- Nature Paper

Episode 128 | Mitochondrial Powerup w/Methylene Blue | Dr Scott Sherr

Episode 144 | Muscle for Athletic Healthspan | Mark Tarnopolsky MD PhD

Help the show:

3 ways to support our show:

Leave a review (or share this episode)