Ingredient profile
ESS60 in Mighty K9: What C60 Is and What the Studies Found
ESS60 is a trademarked form of C60, a round carbon molecule, dissolved in olive oil. Each 2 mL serving of Mighty K9 holds 1.6 mg. A small rat study reported longer lifespans (Baati et al., 2012), but a larger mouse study found no benefit (Grohn et al., 2021). No study has tested ESS60 in dogs with joint problems.
Written by the Mighty K9 editorial teamUpdated
The molecule
What is ESS60 in Mighty K9?
ESS60 is a brand name for C60, also called carbon-60 fullerene or a "buckyball." It is a hollow ball made of 60 carbon atoms, shaped a bit like a soccer ball.
C60 does not dissolve in water, but it does dissolve in fats. That is why C60 products are sold as oils.
The Mighty K9 front panel says "Contains 100% ESS60." The ingredient list puts ESS60 second, after extra virgin olive oil and before bacon flavor.
The label does not name who makes ESS60, and we could not confirm who owns the trademark.
Profile
ESS60 at a glance: label facts next to research
The label prints one exact number for ESS60: 1.6 mg per 2 mL serving. That works out to 0.8 mg per mL. It is the same strength of C60 in olive oil used in the best-known rat study (Baati et al., 2012).
| Label name | ESS60 |
|---|---|
| What it is | C60 fullerene (carbon-60) in olive oil |
| Role | Trademarked C60 ingredient |
| Position on the label | 1 of 3 (ingredients are listed by weight) |
| Amount per 2 mL serving | 1.6 mg per 2 mL serving |
| What research tested | Rats: 1.7 mg/kg (Baati 2012). Mice: no lifespan benefit (Grohn 2021). Dogs: one 9-day study of 6 beagles |
| Strength of evidence | Very limited (animal studies, none in arthritic dogs) |
| Marketed use | Sold as an antioxidant for joint comfort and cellular aging |
| Main caution | No long-term safety data in dogs. C60 in oil can turn toxic when left in light (mouse study). |
The label footnote adds that ESS60 is not an essential nutrient for dogs.
Rats
What did the C60 rat study find?
A 2012 study in France gave rats C60 dissolved in olive oil and reported much longer lives in that group (Baati et al., 2012). It is the study most C60 sellers point to.
There were only 6 rats in each group. The dose was 1.7 mg per kg of body weight, given daily for a week, then weekly, then every two weeks.
| Group | Median lifespan | What it tells us |
|---|---|---|
| Water | About 22 months | The baseline group |
| Plain olive oil | About 26 months | Olive oil alone seemed to help a little |
| C60 in olive oil | About 42 months | The headline result, from 6 animals |
The authors called it exploratory and asked for a larger study. Six rats per group settles little, and rats are not dogs. It says nothing about a dog's joints.
Mice
Did a larger study confirm the C60 lifespan result?
No. A 2021 mouse study set out to repeat the rat result and found no lifespan or healthspan benefit from C60 in olive oil (Grohn et al., 2021).
One part used 66 mice of both sexes. In another, older mice given 1.7 mg/kg by injection had a median survival of 144 weeks, against 145 weeks on olive oil alone.
Fresh C60 oil kept in the dark was not acutely toxic, but oil left in light for 4 to 8 days killed mice in a lab test. C60 oils bought online also varied in strength and purity.
The larger, more careful study did not back up the rat result. Our rats vs mice post walks through both studies side by side.
Dogs
Has C60 been studied in dogs?
Barely. The one dog study we found used 6 beagles and did not test ESS60 (Hui et al., 2023).
| Detail | Beagle study | Mighty K9 |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | 6 healthy beagles, not described as arthritic | Sold for everyday joint comfort |
| Carrier oil | Grape seed oil | Extra virgin olive oil |
| C60 a day | About 150 mg | 1.6 mg |
| Length | 9 days | Daily, open-ended |
| Control group | None | Not studied |
| Measured | One blood marker (CRP) | Not studied |
The beagles got nearly 100 times the C60 in one Mighty K9 serving. That cannot tell owners what 1.6 mg a day does for a stiff senior dog.
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Order nowSafety
Is C60 safe for dogs?
Nobody knows for sure, because no long-term safety study of C60 in dogs exists. Short-term animal data look calm, with clear limits.
- Short-term rats: a 14-day study gave up to 3.8 mg/kg a day in olive oil and reported no adverse effects (Burres et al., 2024). Its authors are linked to a C60 maker, so weigh it with that in mind.
- Breathed in: a U.S. government study of inhaled C60 found lung and other effects in rats and mice (NTP, 2020). Eating it in oil is a different route, so that result does not transfer directly.
Stop the drops and call your veterinarian if your dog vomits, has diarrhea or stops eating. More on the oil and calories: Mighty K9 side effects.
Storage
How should you store a C60 oil like Mighty K9?
Keep it capped in a dark cupboard, away from heat. C60 oil left in light for 4 to 8 days turned toxic in the mouse study (Grohn et al., 2021), and the label prints no storage directions.
Keep the amber glass
Never move the oil into a clear bottle.
Cap it right away
Fill the dropper, close the bottle, then serve.
Smell it first
Rancid or odd-colored oil? Call +1 (302) 200-3480 before using more.
Dose by size
How much ESS60 does one serving give a dog per kg?
One 2 mL serving gives 1.6 mg of ESS60, whatever the dog weighs. So a small dog gets much more per kg than a large dog. The bars set that amount next to the 1.7 mg/kg used in rats.
A 5 kg (11 lb) dog gets about 0.32 mg per kg; a 30 kg (66 lb) dog about 0.05. For a small dog or a puppy, check the Mighty K9 serving size guide and ask your vet first.
Bottom line
Is ESS60 worth it for your dog?
That depends on how you weigh thin evidence. The research behind ESS60 is mostly animal work outside dogs.
In its favor
- The amount is printed: 1.6 mg per 2 mL serving
- Same 0.8 mg/mL strength as the rat study oil
- No adverse effects reported in short-term rat testing
- Easy to give in food once a day
Against it
- No study of ESS60 in dogs with joint problems
- The larger mouse study found no benefit
- Maker of ESS60 not named on the label
- Sensitive to light; storage matters
The sales page calls ESS60 "172 times more powerful than Vitamin C" and names no study. Weight control, exercise and vet care have far stronger support for aging joints.
FAQ
ESS60 and C60 questions dog owners ask
What is ESS60 for dogs?
ESS60 is a trademarked C60 (carbon-60 fullerene) ingredient dissolved in olive oil. In Mighty K9 it appears at 1.6 mg per 2 mL serving. The sales page links it to joint comfort and cellular aging, but no study has tested ESS60 in dogs with joint problems.
Does C60 make dogs live longer?
No study shows that. A rat study with 6 animals per group reported longer lifespans, but a larger mouse study found no lifespan benefit. The only dog study lasted 9 days.
Can C60 oil go bad?
Yes. In a mouse study, C60 in olive oil turned toxic after 4 to 8 days of light exposure. Keep the amber bottle capped in a dark cupboard and call the order desk if the oil smells off.
How much C60 is in Mighty K9?
The label lists 1.6 mg of ESS60 per 2 mL serving, which is 0.8 mg per mL. A full 60 mL bottle holds 30 servings, so about 48 mg of ESS60 in total. That is the only ingredient amount printed on the label.
Can puppies have ESS60?
Ask your veterinarian first. No C60 study has looked at puppies, and one fixed 2 mL serving gives a small, young dog far more ESS60 per kg than a large adult. Growing dogs also have tight calorie and fat needs, so the oil itself matters.
Is ESS60 approved by the FDA?
No. ESS60 is not an FDA-approved drug, and U.S. law has no dietary supplement category for animals. A dog product is legally either an animal food or a drug. Mighty K9 is sold as a canine supplement, not as a treatment for any disease.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the sales page and linked veterinary and government sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. retail partner, not by the manufacturer. This site is paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
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