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Home / Protocols / Longevity / Mitochondrial
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Longevity / Mitochondrial Protocol

A cellular-health stack focused on the mitochondria, where your cells produce energy. These ingredients support NAD+ levels, mitochondrial renewal, and normal cellular housekeeping processes associated with healthy aging.

How this connects

This is part of the foundation under the whole chain, alongside metabolic and gut health. Your mitochondria produce the cellular energy behind focus, recovery, and drive (CoQ10 is shared with Hormone Health), and they work hand in hand with Weight / Metabolic Support. Good sleep is when much of that repair happens. Read the full protocol story.

Also see Hormone Health, Fertility & Sexual Wellness: CoQ10, omega-3s, and vitamin D3/K2 are shared foundations, including for preconception nutrition and midlife vitality.

Also see Beauty (on this page): collagen, hydration and antioxidant support for skin, hair and nails, built on the same cellular-energy foundation.

Free foundations first

Habits that make this protocol work

These cost nothing and do the heavy lifting. Supplements are meant to sit on top of them, not replace them.

  • Zone 2 cardioEasy-to-moderate cardio where you can still talk in full sentences, accumulated across the week. It’s a training stimulus for your mitochondria.
  • Resistance training2–4 sessions a week supports muscle, strength, healthy metabolism, and healthy hormone levels as you age.
  • Protect a 7–9 hour sleep windowMost adults need at least 7 hours. Give yourself the time in bed to actually get it, consistently.
  • Protein at every mealBuild each meal around a solid portion of protein. It supports muscle, recovery, and staying full, and steadies energy through the day.
  • Walk after dinnerA 10–15 minute easy walk after meals, especially dinner, supports a healthy post-meal glucose response and digestion, and helps you wind down.

The stack

4 products · Brand options are listed for each; choose one that fits your preferences and budget.

NMN + Resveratrol (taken with fat)

Brands
DoNotAge · Wonderfeel · Omre · Renue by Science
Typical dose
NMN ~500–1,000 mg · Resveratrol per label, taken with a fat source

NMN is a precursor that supports healthy NAD+ levels and cellular energy; resveratrol supports healthy cellular aging pathways. Taking resveratrol with fat supports absorption.*

Product quality varies widely; favor brands that publish third-party purity testing.

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Mitopure (Urolithin A)

Brands
Timeline
Typical dose
500–1,000 mg daily, per label

Urolithin A supports mitophagy, the natural renewal of mitochondria, which supports cellular energy and muscle endurance.*

Available as softgels, powder, or blended into food formats.

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Spermidine

Brands
DoNotAge · or similar
Typical dose
Per label (wheat-germ–derived products commonly ~1–6 mg)

A naturally occurring polyamine that supports autophagy, the body’s normal cellular recycling process, associated with healthy aging.*

Check the source; some wheat-germ products are not gluten-free.

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Vitamin D3 + K2

Brands
Thorne · Momentous
Typical dose
D3 1,000–5,000 IU + K2 (MK-7) per label, with a meal containing fat

Vitamin D3 supports immune, bone, and muscle function; K2 supports healthy calcium utilization. A foundational pairing for long-term health.*

Consider testing vitamin D levels. If you take anticoagulants, talk to your clinician before using K2.

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Beauty from within

Beauty

Your skin and hair are where the rest of the chain becomes visible. Short nights and stress that runs late keep cortisol up when skin should be doing its overnight repair; your gut is where collagen-building nutrients are absorbed; and skin cells and hair follicles run on the same mitochondrial energy as the rest of this page. Shifting estrogen in midlife plays a part too (see Hormone Health).

Beginner: 2–4 weeks of the free habits below, then one core item: marine collagen peptides. Add the beauty electrolyte or matcha later if you want a second.

More advanced: all three core items, plus astaxanthin with a fat-containing meal. Already taking Mitopure from this page? It supports cellular energy in skin cells too.

Hair shedding that lasts for months deserves a clinician visit first; iron, thyroid and vitamin D are common checks.

Hands holding a glass of iced matcha latte on a pale table

Free habits first

  • Water through the dayKeep a glass or bottle in sight and drink steadily through the day, a little more on hot or training days. Pale-yellow urine is a simple guide.
  • Everyday sun habitsBroad-spectrum SPF on face, neck and hands each morning, shade or a hat around midday. Morning outdoor light still matters for your body clock; it’s long, unprotected midday exposure your skin notices.
  • Protect a 7–9 hour sleep windowMost adults need at least 7 hours. Give yourself the time in bed to actually get it, consistently.
  • Protein at every mealBuild each meal around a solid portion of protein. It supports muscle, recovery, and staying full, and steadies energy through the day.
  • Color on your plateColorful plants (berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, citrus) and oily fish a couple of times a week bring vitamin C, carotenoids and omega-3s that your skin uses.

Recommended option: Pique’s Skin + Hair Longevity stack

Three products that cover collagen, hydration and antioxidants. Buy them separately or as one bundle; each card lists a strong alternative brand.

Marine Collagen Peptides

Brands
Pique Carrara (marine Type I + Type II collagen, biotin) · Momentous Collagen Peptides (bovine, with vitamin C) · Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Collagen
Typical dose
Commonly ~2.5–10 g hydrolyzed collagen peptides daily (Carrara: 2 rounded scoops, 8.5 g marine collagen)

Hydrolyzed collagen peptides support skin hydration and elasticity in randomized trials, and supply the amino acids (glycine, proline) your body uses to build its own collagen. Collagen is also the protein behind healthy-looking hair and nails.*

Marine collagen is fish-derived, and Carrara also contains coconut; choose a bovine option if you avoid fish. Studies typically run 8–12 weeks, so give it time. Collagen doesn’t replace complete protein at meals.

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Beauty Electrolyte (Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides)

Brands
Pique B·T Fountain · or a plain electrolyte such as Momentous Daily Hydration plus a separate hyaluronic acid
Typical dose
B·T Fountain: 1 sachet in 12–16 oz cold water daily · other electrolytes per label

Hydration from the inside: electrolytes support healthy fluid balance, while sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) and wheat-derived phytoceramides support skin moisture and the skin’s natural barrier in small placebo-controlled trials. One drink covers both.*

Prefer separate pieces? Oral hyaluronic acid (e.g., Renue by Science LIPO HLA) and wheat-extract phytoceramides are sold on their own; choose one route, not both. B·T Fountain’s phytoceramides come from wheat seed extract, so check the label if you avoid wheat or gluten. If your clinician has asked you to limit sodium, check the electrolyte content first.

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Caffeine: see Energy / Focus

Ceremonial-Grade Matcha

Brands
Pique Sun Goddess Matcha · or any organic, ceremonial-grade matcha
Typical dose
1–2 servings daily, before early afternoon (Pique’s label suggests up to 2–3)

Green tea catechins such as EGCG provide antioxidant support, and in a 12-week trial in women, green tea polyphenols supported skin hydration and elasticity. Matcha’s natural L-theanine supports calm, steady energy.*

Contains caffeine: count it toward your daily caffeine and keep it before your cutoff to protect sleep. Matcha supports your skin’s own defenses but is not a substitute for sunscreen.

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Advanced add-on

Astaxanthin (Algae-Derived)

Brands
Algae-derived astaxanthin via iHerb or Amazon (e.g., AstaReal- or BioAstin-based products)
Typical dose
Commonly ~4–12 mg daily with a meal containing fat

A red carotenoid from microalgae that supports the skin’s antioxidant defenses and, in small human studies, supported skin moisture and elasticity.*

Fat-soluble, so take it with food. Not a substitute for sunscreen. Check with your clinician if you take blood-thinning or blood-pressure medication.

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Prefer one box?

Pique’s Skin + Hair Longevity Protocol

Bundles the three core items: Carrara marine collagen, B·T Fountain beauty electrolyte, and Sun Goddess matcha. The cautions on the cards apply (fish, coconut, wheat-derived ceramides, caffeine). Pregnant, trying to conceive or nursing? Check with your clinician first.

View the bundle Affiliate link
What the research says

A 2021 meta-analysis of 19 randomized trials found hydrolyzed collagen supported skin hydration and elasticity over about 90 days. In a 12-week trial in women, green tea polyphenols supported skin hydration and elasticity. Small placebo-controlled trials found oral hyaluronan supported skin moisture, and wheat-extract ceramides supported skin hydration in women. Astaxanthin data are early and small. Sources: collagen · green tea · hyaluronan · wheat ceramides · astaxanthin.

Talk to your healthcare provider first. Supplements affect everyone differently and can interact with medications. Start with one product at a time at the low end of the dose range, and check with your clinician before starting, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription medication, or managing a health condition. Doses shown are typical label ranges, not personal recommendations.