Effects of ursolic acid consumption on strength and body composition

Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene found in a wide variety of commonly consumed fruits and herbs with potential mechanisms for fat loss and skeletal muscle hypertrophy in in-vitro and murine models. This study was conducted to investigate if consumption of 1 gram per day of ursolic acid for 60 days would significantly change strength and body composition in moderately resistance trained adult males. In a placebo controlled double blind manner, 10 weight training participants received ursolic acid or placebo. Body composition was determined using air displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod). Strength was determined using 5 repetition maxes in the bench press and smith machine squat. Ursolic acid resulted in an increase in squat5RM, bench5RM/bodyweight ratio, and squat5RM/bodyweight ratio over time with no change in body composition or weight. In this small sample, ursolic acid increased strength to bodyweight ratio in resistance training college males.