A New Science-Backed Formula for Healthy Aging

As scientific interest in the gut microbiome continues expanding, researchers and health companies are increasingly exploring how gut-related processes may influence broader aspects of human wellness. One company contributing to that discussion is Propion, a biotechnology and nutritional science company co-founded by UC Berkeley entrepreneur Nicholas Tubach and aging-science researcher Dr. Dan Winer. The company is currently preparing for the launch of their product, METABIOME AgeDefense, a nutritional formulation that helps the gut re-establish lost communication with the brain and other organs. 

Tubach and Winer began collaborating through research and biotechnology environments connected to aging science. Over the last two decades, Dr. Winer has studied the relationship between the immune system and the aging process at institutions including Stanford University, the University of Toronto, and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

During this period, Tubach interned under Winer while also gaining experience through biotechnology ventures he founded as a student. Their shared interest in microbiome science and metabolic research eventually led to the creation of Propion.

Dr. Dan Winer, Cofounder & Scientific Director of Propion Inc. Dr. Winer is also an assistant professor at University of Toronto and an associate professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Winer has won numerous awards for his work in the field of gastroimmunology – the study of immune cells living in the gut.

According to the company, their area of particular interest involves gut metabolites, which are compounds generated through interactions between nutrients and the microbiome. While the gut microbiome itself has become a widely discussed topic within wellness and scientific communities, the company says its focus is specifically centered on the metabolites produced through microbiome processes. 

“People know that the gut microbiota are important,” Dr. Winer says. “but what they don’t often know is that the metabolites produced by gut bacteria are the interface between bacterial and human biology.” 

“We’re interested in getting the gut to produce molecules that emerging research shows have powerful restorative, protective effects throughout the body. These are molecules you tend to produce less of as you get older.” 

Propion uses the term “metabiome” to describe the whole body – in juxtaposition to the “microbiome” that has become such a popular topic in health science. According to the company, the health of the “metabiome” depends on molecules created in the microbiome, hence the name of their product. 

Propion says they designed METABIOME AgeDefense with several consumer audiences in mind. These include individuals interested in healthy cognitive aging, athletes that deal with high levels of inflammation, and people who like to occasionally indulge in fatty or sugary foods, as evidence shows the gut metabolites targeted by the product regulate cholesterol and sugar processing. The company is careful to note, however, that despite clinical evidence their formula raises levels of these important gut metabolites, their product is not intended to treat or prevent any disease. 

As microbiome and metabolite research continues developing, Propion says it hopes to contribute to broader public awareness surrounding emerging nutritional science topics and age related wellness research. 

For Tubach and Winer, the company’s mission extends beyond the release of a single formulation. Their long term objective is to encourage greater understanding of microbiome related science and metabolites associated with resilience to factors that cumulatively drive aging. 

Additional information about Propion and METABIOME AgeDefense is available through Propion.com. The company also shares educational updates and company news through Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.