Can compounds derived from common kitchen ingredients help support muscle health as we age? New research suggests it’s possible.
This study revealed that S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine (S1PC), a bioactive compound present in aged garlic extract, exhibits potential anti-aging effects. S1PC may promote interorgan communication between adipose tissue and the brain, ultimately strengthening muscle strength and improving muscle weakness in the elderly.
A joint team of Japanese researchers from Tokyo’s Institute for Productive Aging (IRPA), a non-profit aging research institute founded in 2019, and Hiroshima’s Yukinaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a global leader in aged garlic extract products, has now revealed how the S1PC compound acts in the body to influence muscle function during aging. The study will be published online in the journal cell metabolism May 7, 2026.
”In my clinical experience as a physical therapist, I often found it frustrating to see elderly people losing function and vitality simply because they did not have a specific illness that required treatment. This gap in preventive care drove my research” said Dr. Kiyoshi Yoshioka, one of the lead authors who also contributed to this study.We hope that our findings will help older adults improve their fitness and strength simply by incorporating nutritional supplements as part of their daily diet.”
Aging research is attracting a lot of attention due to the aging of the world’s population and the increasing medical burden associated with increasing muscle weakness among the elderly. Drugs that improve age-related health conditions are expensive and unsustainable in the long term. On the other hand, the health foods that currently exist lack support based on scientific evidence. To fill this gap, the IRPA and Yukinaga research team set out to identify and develop evidence-based anti-aging interventions by investigating the natural compounds found in aged garlic extract (AGE).
They studied S1PC, a natural compound derived from AGEs, and found that it activates the liver kinase B1 (LKB1) enzyme, an important regulator of cellular metabolism. Importantly, S1PC promotes the formation of a protein complex involving LKB1, which leads to activation of the SIRT1 pathway, which promotes the secretion of extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) from adipose tissue. The enzyme eNAMPT is key to the synthesis of NAD+, an essential small molecule involved in cell protection, DNA repair, and energy production.
Rather than acting directly on muscle, eNAMPT in extracellular vesicles (eNAMPT-EVs) released from adipose tissue travels through the bloodstream and acts on the hypothalamus, a major regulatory center in the brain. This interaction is associated with increased sympathetic signaling, which contributes to improved muscle function. The findings reveal a new communication pathway linking adipose tissue, brain, and skeletal muscle, providing new insights into how age-related functional decline is controlled.
The functional benefits of S1PC were further evaluated in aged mice. Long-term administration of S1PC reduced frailty scores, increased skeletal muscle strength, and restored core body temperature. Of note, human studies have shown that S1PC increases circulating eNAMPT levels, especially in individuals with sufficient adipose tissue. The finding that the distinct effects of S1PC on eNAMPT-EV secretion are conserved between cells, mice, and humans has important implications for the use of S1PC as a potential anti-aging intervention in humans.
Dr. Shinichiro Imai, Chairman of IRPA, emphasized the importance of their findings:Our findings demonstrate a unique, previously unrecognized function of S1PC in activating LKB1 and promoting interorgan communication that improves muscle weakness. It is anticipated that S1PC is likely to have a wide range of anti-aging effects that require detailed study.”
S1PC is a potential nutraceutical approach to address age-related muscle loss and may complement other approaches such as NAD+-enhancing compounds. As a component of traditional medicine, AGEs have been consumed for generations, and there have been no reports of adverse events, suggesting that S1PC has a good safety profile. Dr. Imai describes his vision for the future as follows.We have successfully extended our current understanding of how different organs coordinate their responses during aging. Further research is needed to confirm the improvement in human muscle function and evaluate the long-term effects of S1PC. The presence of LKB1 in the brain and its possible role also needs to be evaluated.”
By revealing how S1PC influences muscle function, this study opens new directions for understanding and potentially addressing the global challenge of age-related decline.
This research will also be presented at the FASEB SRC on NAD+ Metabolism and Signaling from June 7th to 11th in Melbourne, Florida, USA.
sauce:
Productive Aging Research Institute
Reference magazines:
Suzuki J. others. (2026). Garlic-derived metabolites activate LKB1, promote adipose eNAMPT secretion, and improve age-related muscle function via hypothalamic signaling. cell metabolism. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2026.04.006. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(26)00144-0
