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Cutting-edge longevity · Telomere support

TA-65

Also searched as: TA-65MD · TA 65 · cycloastragenol · astragalus telomerase activator

A plant-derived extract marketed as a telomerase activator. Its one randomized trial is small, and its authors include people linked to the maker.

Vanu Health Research Team · Updated

Telomere details

What is known about TA-65 and telomeres

Randomized trial (2016): low dose lengthened telomeres; high dose not significant

How it is meant to work

TA-65 is marketed as a telomerase activator: an enzyme that adds length back to telomeres. The 2016 trial tests that claim in blood cells.

What has been measured

  • Harley et al. 2011 (Rejuvenation Research), an analysis of a commercial health program whose abstract reports no control group: mean telomere length did not increase. The percentage of short telomeres fell significantly (p = 0.037). The authors say the protocol lengthens critically short telomeres. The program also included supplements and physician counselling.
  • Salvador et al. 2016 (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled): 117 relatively healthy cytomegalovirus-positive adults aged 53 to 87. Groups were placebo, low dose (250 U, about 8 mg of active ingredient) and high dose (1,000 U, about 32 mg). 97 completed. Over 12 months, the low-dose group’s telomeres lengthened by 530 ± 180 bp (p = 0.005), while placebo lost 290 ± 100 bp. The high-dose group showed a trend that did not reach significance.
  • The 2016 Results section describes the 530 bp figure as a difference from placebo, while the paper’s own table implies a smaller gain from baseline. Read the number with care.

What it means

The only randomized, placebo-controlled human data for TA-65 is one 2016 study. It shows a low-dose signal in blood cells, a non-significant high dose, a small sample, and authors and funding linked to the maker. Telomere length in blood has not been shown to change skin appearance or lifespan.

Telomeres are the protective caps on chromosomes. Blood-cell telomere length is a biomarker; it has not been shown to predict how skin looks or how long you live.

What is TA-65?

Telomeres are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. They shorten each time a cell divides. Telomerase is the enzyme that can rebuild them.

TA-65 is a plant-derived extract. T.A. Sciences, Inc. is the company behind it, and several authors of the 2016 trial are its employees or consultants. The trial reports doses in units and gives the active ingredient as 8 mg (low dose) and 32 mg (high dose).

Why it comes up for skin and aging

We found no controlled trial showing that TA-65 improves wrinkles, firmness or hydration in people.

What the research shows

Harley et al. 2011 analysed a commercial health program, and its abstract reports no control group. It reports that mean telomere length did not increase, while the percentage of short telomeres fell significantly.

Salvador et al. 2016 is the only randomized, placebo-controlled study we found. Its authors include employees and consultants of T.A. Sciences, Inc., and a clinical investigator was supported by funding from the company.

Telomere length in blood cells is a biomarker. It has not been shown to predict skin appearance, and trials so far do not show that raising it extends healthy lifespan.

Forms, amounts and limits

Commercial programs have used TA-65 capsules. Follow the label. We do not recommend a dose.

Availability and licensing vary by country. In Canada, check Health Canada’s licensed products database for an NPN before buying.

Safety

Telomerase activity is found in most cancer cells, so there is a theoretical concern about long-term activation. The human studies we reviewed were too small and short to rule out harm.

People with a personal or strong family history of cancer, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should avoid it unless a clinician advises otherwise.

Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medicines.

Questions

Will TA-65 make me look younger?

No trial we found has tested skin appearance. Studies report telomere measurements, not skin appearance.

Is TA-65 the same as Telos95?

No. They are separate products. TA-65 has a published randomized trial; Telos95 has only a trade-press report we could find.

Does a telomere test show if it works?

Telomere measurements can vary between labs and samples, so one before-and-after reading is weak evidence.

Sources

  1. Salvador et al. 2016: a natural product telomerase activator lengthens telomeres in humans (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled) (opens in a new tab)
  2. Harley et al. 2011, Rejuvenation Research: a natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program (PubMed 20822369) (opens in a new tab)
  3. Health Canada: Licensed Natural Health Products Database (opens in a new tab)

General information, not medical advice. Vanu Health does not sell this supplement. Read our terms.