New Trial Links Combo Supplement to Increased Strength and Reduced Biological Age 

Highlights

• Fifty-one older adults took a supplement stack called Cel System daily for one year, resulting in improvements in strength, mobility, and waist circumference.
• Measures of biological age based on DNA patterns showed a significant decrease, suggesting slowed biological aging.
• Changes occurred without the addition of structured exercise routines.
  

Efforts to support healthy aging have often focused on treating symptoms as they emerge, rather than targeting the biological underpinnings that give rise to age-related decline. Recently, however, researchers have begun testing whether coordinated interventions aimed at multiple root causes of aging can produce broader benefits.

Now, a team of scientists published a study in Aging evaluating the Cel System, a structured supplement regimen designed to intervene across key biological pathways associated with aging. The Cel System combines three formulations—Cel1, Cel2, and Cel3—each developed to target distinct mechanisms such as DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired cellular recycling.

Fifty-one adults between the ages of 54 and 84 took the Cel System daily for a full year. According to the findings, the intervention led to measurable gains in physical performance, reductions in waist circumference, and a slowing of biological aging as determined by epigenetic markers.

Supplementation Improves Strength, Mobility, and Body Composition

Given that loss of strength and increases in central fat are closely linked to morbidity and frailty with age, the researchers assessed these parameters throughout the study. They found that grip strength and chair stand ability improved significantly at both six and twelve months following daily Cel System use.

In addition to strength gains, waist circumference – a marker of abdominal fat accumulation – decreased by nearly two inches on average. Furthermore, modest but consistent reductions in body weight and BMI were also noted at the six-month mark.

Uniquely, these changes were achieved without the addition of formal exercise programs. Accordingly, this observation suggests that the Cel System itself may have contributed to the improvements, although future studies would be needed to isolate the effects more precisely.

Supplementation Slows the Pace of Biological Aging

In addition to physical measures, the researchers explored whether supplementation could influence markers of biological aging. They employed several well-established epigenetic clocks, including Horvath’s Clock, PhenoAge, and GrimAge. These clocks estimate biological age based on DNA methylation, a natural process where chemical tags (called methyl groups) attach to DNA and influence how genes are turned on or off.

After twelve months, participants showed statistically significant reductions in predicted biological age across these different clocks. Further analysis indicated that supplementation altered methylation patterns in genes tied to inflammation regulation, mitochondrial function, and cellular repair pathways, all of which are considered key pathways in aging. 

Although these results are promising, it remains unclear whether reductions in biological age scores directly translate into increased lifespan or healthspan. In that regard, longer-term studies would be necessary to confirm the clinical significance of these molecular changes.

Understanding the Cel System: A Multi-Pathway Approach to Healthy Aging

The Cel System was designed to tackle aging by reinforcing three biological pillars: genomic stability, mitochondrial energy production, and cellular cleanup. Here’s how each component contributes:

Cel1: Enhancing Genomic Stability

The first formulation, Cel1, aimed to protect the genome and cellular structures from unwarranted damage, a fundamental cause of aging. Key ingredients included: 

• 2-HOBA (2-Hydroxybenzylamine):
  2-HOBA, a naturally derived compound from buckwheat, neutralizes reactive carbonyl species—highly reactive byproducts of oxidative stress that can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids. In a recent clinical study, 2-HOBA supplementation for 15 days in healthy adults significantly increased immune signaling proteins while decreasing factors linked to chronic inflammation. These shifts suggest that 2-HOBA may help modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation without impairing normal immune function. 
• Astragaloside IV:
  Astragaloside IV, a compound extracted from the Astragalus plant, has been shown to activate telomerase, an enzyme that preserves the length of telomeres – the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten with age. Notably, shortened telomeres are linked to age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and immune decline. In a recent clinical trial, an Astragalus-based supplement significantly increased telomere length in middle-aged adults over six months.
• Rutin and Curcumin:
  Rutin, a plant flavonoid, strengthens blood vessels and acts as an antioxidant, while curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has been shown to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress pathways. Evidence suggests that curcumin achieves these effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and by regulating key signaling pathways such as NF-κB and NLRP3. Meanwhile, rutin has demonstrated protective effects in models of neurodegeneration, diabetes, and vascular inflammation, partly through its ability to reduce oxidative stress and support nitric oxide production​

Impact:
By supporting DNA integrity and reducing oxidative damage, Cel1 may have helped participants maintain healthier gene expression profiles, contributing to slowed biological aging.

Cel2: Boosting Mitochondrial Function and Energy Metabolism

The second formulation, Cel2, was developed to counter mitochondrial decline and promote efficient energy metabolism. Key ingredients included:

• Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN):
  NMN is a naturally occurring compound and direct precursor to NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a coenzyme vital for energy production, DNA repair, and cellular resilience. NAD+ levels decline with age and in chronic conditions like metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. By restoring NAD+ through NMN supplementation, research suggests it may help counteract these declines.  Studies show that boosting NAD+ with NMN can improve endurance, muscle strength, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial health. NAD+ also activates sirtuins – enzymes critical for genome stability and cell survival – linking NMN not only to metabolic health, but potentially to the delay of age-related diseases and extension of lifespan.
• Astaxanthin:
  Studies have shown that astaxanthin supports mitochondrial integrity, reduces reactive oxygen species, and improves mitochondrial energy output – factors linked to better skin health, cardiovascular resilience, and age-related muscle maintenance
• Vitamin D and Riboflavin (Vitamin B2):
  Vitamin D regulates the expression of over 900 genes, many of which play key roles in immune defense, inflammation control, and cellular aging. Studies suggest that adequate vitamin D levels are associated with improved immune regulation and may help delay age-related decline by supporting DNA repair and reducing chronic inflammation. Riboflavin is essential for mitochondrial energy production, serving as a precursor for flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN), coenzymes involved in the electron transport chain. Adequate riboflavin levels support efficient ATP synthesis, and emerging research suggests it may enhance mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress, potentially mitigating age-related cellular decline.

Impact:
Strength gains and reduced fatigue reported by participants could be the result of improved mitochondrial efficiency and energy production supported by Cel2.

Cel3: Promoting Cellular Renewal and Reducing Inflammation

The third component, Cel3, was formulated to enhance autophagy and promote clearance of senescent cells, two processes that tend to become impaired with age. It contained:

• Fisetin:
  Naturally found in strawberries, fisetin acts as a senolytic, meaning it helps the body selectively eliminate senescent cells – cells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active, releasing inflammatory signals that contribute to aging and chronic disease. Moreover, senescent cells accumulate over time and drive tissue damage through persistent inflammation.  Preclinical research shows that fisetin can reduce the burden of these dysfunctional cells, lower age-related inflammation, and extend both healthspan and lifespan. Emerging human studies suggest fisetin may help decrease markers of cellular aging, but larger clinical trials are still underway to confirm its benefits in people.
• Apigenin:
  A flavonoid abundant in parsley and chamomile, apigenin supports healthy cellular aging by promoting autophagy—the process by which cells clear out damaged components to maintain energy balance and function. Studies show that apigenin activates autophagy by influencing key stress and energy pathways in cells, including suppression of mTOR signaling and activation of AMPK. It also helps reduce inflammation and protects cells against stress-induced damage, further supporting its role in longevity and disease prevention​.
  
• Berberine and EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate):
  Berberine, a bioactive compound found in plants like goldenseal, activates AMPK – a critical enzyme that senses low energy in cells and triggers pathways linked to improved metabolism, cellular cleanup, and longevity​. EGCG, the main antioxidant catechin in green tea, supports mitochondrial health by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, reducing inflammation, and protecting against oxidative stress​. Together, these compounds may help maintain metabolic health and slow age-related cellular decline.

Impact:
Cel3 may have supported reductions in systemic inflammation and helped maintain healthier tissue function by enhancing cellular cleanup mechanisms.

Limitations and Questions for Future Research

While the Cel System study presents promising findings, several limitations must be acknowledged. Most notably, because the intervention combined multiple compounds, it is unclear which specific ingredients, or which combinations, were most responsible for the benefits. Studies isolating each component would be necessary to better understand their individual contributions.

Second, although reductions in biological age markers are significant, it remains uncertain whether these molecular improvements will translate into longer lifespan or fewer age-related diseases in practice. As such, longer follow-up studies are needed.

Additionally, because the trial did not include a placebo group, it is possible that external lifestyle factors could have influenced some results, although the consistency across multiple measures strengthens confidence in the findings.

Nevertheless, the study provides support for the emerging idea that targeting multiple aging mechanisms simultaneously may be more effective than single-compound interventions alone.