Urolithin A, Spermidine, Ergothioneine, PQQ: Are These New Ingredients Legitimate? A 2026 Guide to Regulatory Status and Labeling
JRQ consumer verification guide Published: November 6, 2026
People ask: which anti-aging supplement is better? When they see names like urolithin A, spermidine, ergothioneine, and PQQ, they do not know which to choose. JRQ does not list brands and does not judge whether these ingredients are "legitimate." This guide covers one thing: how to check documents, read labels, and verify for yourself. Start with what the ingredient is where it is sold, then check whether the labeling is specific, and finally check whether the cited studies can be traced.
First check the ingredient's status where it is sold
If you buy in mainland China, first check whether the ingredient has appeared in a new food ingredient announcement or is listed in the health food raw material catalog. Both can be checked on official channels of China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation. JRQ will not check the conclusion for you. It only reminds you: not finding a record does not necessarily mean there is a problem. Finding a record still means you should keep checking the label.
For products sold in mainland China, if the product has the "blue hat" health food logo, check the registration number, filing number, and health function on the special food information inquiry platform. If it does not have the blue hat, it is an ordinary food and cannot make health function claims. You can check these yourself; you do not need to rely on what the seller says.
When buying in Japan, look at the ingredient lists published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). One is "the MHLW list of ingredients used exclusively as pharmaceuticals." The other is the list of ingredients that are not judged as pharmaceuticals as long as no drug-like efficacy is claimed. Which list an ingredient appears in is the starting point for checking its status. You should also check this starting point yourself, rather than relying only on what a personal shopper or seller says.
One reminder: Japan has no legal category called "health food." What the market calls health food is legally just food. Foods with Function Claims (FFC) use a notification system (a notification is not an approval), and Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) are individually approved. Both can be checked on the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) website. If there is no record, treat the product as an ordinary food, and ordinary food does not make efficacy claims.
Then check the label: name, source, and milligrams per daily serving need to be specific
When you see a new ingredient name, first check whether the label gives a specific chemical name. For example, it should say "urolithin A" or "L-ergothioneine," not made-up terms such as "cellular energy factor" or "plant anti-aging factor." The raw material source also needs to be stated: whether it is plant extract, fermentation, or synthesis. Just saying "natural source" is not enough.
For content, look at the number of milligrams per daily serving, not per capsule, per tablet, or per bottle. If the label only says "compound plant extract" without naming the specific ingredients and their amounts, that information is incomplete.
The test report also needs to match. Is the sample in the report a raw material or a finished product? Is the test method stated? Is the substance tested the same one named on the label? If the report and the label do not match, the report cannot be used to vouch for the label.
"New ingredient" and "black tech" do not equal evidence
A new ingredient is only new. That does not mean it has more evidence. When a product page cites research, first check it using the JRQ-D-006 approach: Can the paper be traced back to the original source? Is the study subject a raw material or this product? Is it an in vitro, animal, or human study? If it is a human study, is it a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or an observational study? A preprint has not undergone peer review, so look carefully. Conflicts of interest and funding sources should also be visible. Formal clinical trial registrations can also be checked, such as jRCT and UMIN-CTR in Japan, ChiCTR in China, and ClinicalTrials.gov in the United States.
JRQ does not evaluate the conclusions of any study. It only reminds you: a cited paper does not mean the product is effective. If a page only says "research confirmed" or "scientific breakthrough" without giving a source, or if the source cannot be opened, that citation cannot be verified.
Check combination products using the JRQ-D-018 approach
Many products put several new ingredients together in one product. First check whether the amount per daily serving is written for each ingredient, not just a "total content of the combined formula."
Using the JRQ-D-018 approach, for combination products also check: Do the ingredients listed on the label match the actual raw materials? How is the total amount added up? Which ingredients does the test report cover? If there is only one report that tested PQQ and it is used to prove the whole combination product, the evidence does not match.
Verification checklist
| Item to check | Where to look | What adequate information looks like | Warning signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredient identity (mainland China) | NHC new food ingredient announcements, State Administration for Market Regulation special food information inquiry platform | The corresponding announcement or a "blue hat" approval certificate can be found | Only says "imported" or "American ingredient" without giving a domestic raw material basis |
| Ingredient identity (Japan) | MHLW ingredient lists, Consumer Affairs Agency Foods with Function Claims search | You can check which list the ingredient is on or see the notification information yourself | Only says "popular in Japan" or "Japanese formula" without giving a checkable entry point |
| Specific chemical name | Product label, product page | States the chemical name or internationally common name clearly, without abbreviations or invented terms | Only uses invented names such as "anti-aging factor" or "black-tech ingredient" |
| Source | Label or manufacturer's information | States the specific source, such as plant extract, fermentation, or synthesis | Only says "natural source" without naming the plant or process |
| Amount per daily serving | Nutrition facts panel on the label or product page | States milligrams per daily serving for a specific ingredient | Only states content per capsule or per bottle |
| Test report | Test report provided by the seller | States the test method, whether the sample is a raw material or finished product, and batch number | Report does not match the labeled ingredient, has no batch number, or only tests the raw material |
| Research citations | Papers cited on the product page | Can be traced to the original source, and states study type and subject | Only says "research confirmed" or "scientific breakthrough" without a source, or the source cannot be opened |
| Combination formula labeling | Ingredient list on the label | Each ingredient states milligrams per daily serving, and the total adds up | Only states "total content of the combined formula" without breaking it down |
| Certification marks | Third-party certification mark | The certification body, certified subject, and validity period can be checked | Self-invented mark, or the certification covers the factory but the product is implied to have passed |
Common misconceptions
- Misconception: A "new ingredient" means high technology and better effects. Reality: "New" only means the ingredient has been on the market for a short time and has less public information. It does not mean it has stronger evidence.
- Misconception: A product sold in Japan has been approved by the Japanese government. Reality: Ordinary health food in Japan is legally just food. Foods with Function Claims use a notification system (a notification is not an approval), and only Foods for Specified Health Uses are individually approved.
- Misconception: If the page lists research citations, the product is effective. Reality: Citations first need to be checked for whether they can be traced, whether the study subject matches the product, and what type of study it is.
- Misconception: Having the blue hat means the product is right for you. Reality: The blue hat only means this is a health food, and the approved function is written on the certificate. It does not mean it is suitable for everyone.
Related JRQ standards
- JRQ-D-001 Labeling Standard for Cell-Function-Related Ingredients: Use this to look at the label as a whole and check whether the name, amount, and raw material correspond.
- JRQ-D-006 Research Citation Labeling Standard: Use this to check whether the papers cited on the product page can be traced back to the original source.
- JRQ-D-014 Certification and Accreditation Labeling Standard: Use this to check whether a certification mark is real and what exactly was certified.
- JRQ-D-018 Combination Formula Labeling Standard: Use this to check how each ingredient in a combination product is labeled and what the testing covers.
Scope of this guide
This guide only explains how to verify information. It does not evaluate the efficacy of any ingredient, does not judge whether ingredients such as urolithin A, spermidine, ergothioneine, and PQQ are "legitimate" or not, and does not recommend or certify any specific product. If you are taking medication, have a chronic disease, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a doctor or pharmacist before buying.
Other guides: Reading "research shows" claims · Checking safety information · Checking label dosage information · Ingredient identity and isomers · Checking comparison claims · Checking combination formulas · Checking certification claims · Checking overseas raw material claims · Checking regenerative medicine providers in Japan · Checking "stem cell" products · Storage and stability · Reading "not detected" · Lot numbers and authenticity · Production methods and impurities · Checking glutathione labels · Checking 5-ALA labels · Reading advertising terms · Questions to ask sellers · Checking cell storage services · Checking PQQ labels · Phosphatidylserine labels · Alpha-lipoic acid labels · Checking ergothioneine labels · Checking plasmalogen labels · Checking quercetin labels · Checking creatine labels · Checking sesamin labels · Berberine labeling and status