Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)
Commonly used for
Healthy Aging
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What is it? / Overview
Wellness uses some people report: reversing biological age and extending lifespan. This is anecdotal, and there isn't strong clinical evidence that it works for everyone. AKG is a TCA-cycle intermediate and a required substrate for DNA/histone demethylases; it modulates epigenetic aging, inhibits mTOR, and acts as a caloric-restriction mimetic in worms, flies, and mice, extending lifespan and healthspan in those models. The main human data point -- an ~8-year reduction in DNA-methylation age -- comes from a retrospective, uncontrolled study of a combination product with only 42 participants, so it should be presented as preliminary, not proven.
How is it used? / Administration
Form: Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) -- distinct from arginine-AKG (AAKG), a sports-nutrition form covered as a note on the L-Arginine entry
Typical dose studied: ~1,000 mg/day (Ca-AKG)
Timing: Daily; some protocols cycle it
Keep distinct from AAKG (arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate, a sports-nutrition compound covered as a note on the L-Arginine entry) -- same acid, different salt, completely different use-case and evidence base.
How well does it work? / Evidence
? Emerging / limited evidence
Who should avoid it?
Already taking it? The headline '8-year biological age reduction' finding comes from a small, uncontrolled study of a multi-ingredient product (Ca-AKG plus vitamins) -- interpret that specific claim cautiously rather than as proven if it comes up; the underlying mechanism (a TCA-cycle intermediate involved in epigenetic regulation) is real, but outcome evidence in humans is thin.
Research & references
Demidenko O et al. (2021). Rejuvant, a Potential Life-Extending Compound Formulation With Alpha-Ketoglutarate and Vitamins, Conferred an Average 8 Year Reduction in Biological Aging. Aging. Bayliak MM, Lushchak VI (2021). Pleiotropic Effects of Alpha-Ketoglutarate as a Potential Anti-Ageing Agent. Ageing Research Reviews.
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