Transcription
Recently, it was finally shown that a molecule called ergothioneine is linked to improved mitochondrial function. Exactly how it does that is still somewhat unknown, beyond the fact that we know it functions through some form of influence on an enzyme called NPST. We know that when more NPST is active inside mitochondria, mitochondrial function increases, and it just so happens that ergothioneine does exactly that: it increases NPST.
It's also believed that exercise can increase NPST in mitochondria, and ergothioneine supplementation in early models may offer an exercise performance benefit as well. We're still at the beginning stages, but this is really interesting research that could make ergothioneine an easy target for study and even supplementation.