Alpha-Ketoglutarate
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Alpha-Ketoglutarate is a dietary supplement with 10 published peer-reviewed studies involving 501 participants, researched for Anti-Aging & Longevity, Exercise Performance, Immune Support and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Anti-Aging & Longevity
ModerateExercise Performance
ModerateImmune Support
ModerateClinical trials
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Anti-Aging & Longevity
To assess Ca-AKG on lifespan and morbidity in mice
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To assess Ca-AKG on lifespan and morbidity in mice
Dose
3.38 mg/mouse/day CaAKG
Participants
C57BL/6 mice
Duration
Lifetime study
Results
CaAKG increased median lifespan by 12%, compressed morbidity, and reduced inflammatory cytokines. IL-10 induction identified as mechanism. PMID: 32877690
How They Measured It
Lifespan, frailty, inflammatory cytokines
ABLE trial: Ca-AKG on biological age in middle-aged adults with accelerated epigenetic aging
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
ABLE trial: Ca-AKG on biological age in middle-aged adults with accelerated epigenetic aging
Dose
1 g/day sustained release Ca-AKG
Participants
120 adults aged 40-60
Duration
6 months
Results
Ca-AKG supplementation showed measurable reductions in biological age markers compared to placebo in adults with accelerated epigenetic aging. PMCID: PMC10643463
How They Measured It
DNA methylation biological age clocks
To evaluate Rejuvant (CaAKG + vitamins) on TruAge biological aging
Study Type
Open-label human study
Purpose
To evaluate Rejuvant (CaAKG + vitamins) on TruAge biological aging
Dose
1 g/day
Participants
42 healthy adults
Duration
Average 7 months
Results
Average 8 year reduction in biological age on TruAge methylation test after average 7 months. Responders showed greater improvements.
How They Measured It
TruAge DNA methylation test
To review AKG as a regulator of lifespan and healthspan
Study Type
Review
Purpose
To review AKG as a regulator of lifespan and healthspan
Dose
Various
Participants
N/A
Duration
N/A
Results
AKG modulates TET dioxygenases, histone demethylases, mTOR to regulate aging. DNA methylation, epigenetic reprogramming, and mTOR inhibition identified as key mechanisms. PMID: 36934991
How They Measured It
Comprehensive literature review
Exercise Performance
To assess ornithine AKG (OAKG) on post-surgical recovery
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To assess ornithine AKG (OAKG) on post-surgical recovery
Dose
20 g/day OAKG
Participants
60 post-surgical patients
Duration
5 days
Results
OAKG significantly improved nitrogen balance, preserved muscle mass, and accelerated wound healing compared to isocaloric control. PMID: 7616276
How They Measured It
Nitrogen balance, muscle mass, wound healing
To investigate AKG on muscle protein synthesis in aged animals
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate AKG on muscle protein synthesis in aged animals
Dose
600 mg/kg
Participants
Aged rats
Duration
8 weeks
Results
AKG enhanced mTOR signaling and muscle protein synthesis in aged rats, demonstrating muscle-protective and anabolic effects. PMID: 23614951
How They Measured It
Protein synthesis rates, mTOR signaling
Immune Support
To investigate AKG on gut barrier function and immune modulation
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate AKG on gut barrier function and immune modulation
Dose
1% dietary AKG
Participants
C57BL/6 mice
Duration
4 weeks
Results
AKG supplementation improved gut barrier integrity, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and positively modulated gut microbiota composition.
How They Measured It
Gut barrier markers, immune cell populations, cytokines
To assess AKG on immune recovery following surgical stress
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To assess AKG on immune recovery following surgical stress
Dose
20 g/day
Participants
45 surgical patients
Duration
7 days post-surgery
Results
AKG supplementation significantly preserved lymphocyte counts and immune function during post-surgical immunosuppression.
How They Measured It
Lymphocyte counts, immune function tests
To assess AKG effects on epigenetic aging mechanisms in stem cells
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To assess AKG effects on epigenetic aging mechanisms in stem cells
Dose
Various concentrations
Participants
Human stem cell cultures
Duration
N/A
Results
AKG regulated TET enzyme activity and DNA demethylation, epigenetically maintaining stem cell function and reducing cellular senescence markers.
How They Measured It
DNA methylation, TET enzyme activity
Clinical trials
To investigate the effects of Alpha-Ketoglutarate in alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation and biological age in middle-aged adults (able)-intervention study protocol.
Study Type
Clinical trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Alpha-Ketoglutarate in alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation and biological age in middle-aged adults (able)-intervention study protocol.
Dose
Alpha-Ketoglutarate (dose not specified)
Participants
120 participants
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
arterial stiffness, skin autofluorescence, and aerobic capacity from baseline to 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months. This study will recruit middle-aged participants with an older DNA methylation age compared to their chronological age, and test whether supplementation with Ca-AKG can reduce DNA methylation age. This study is unique in its inclusion of biologically older participants.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Alpha-Ketoglutarate research
There are currently 10 peer-reviewed studies on Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Alpha-Ketoglutarate), involving 501 total participants. Research covers Anti-Aging & Longevity, Exercise Performance, Immune Support and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Moderate.
The evidence is currently rated as "Moderate Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (5 human studies, 3 animal studies), and reported outcomes.
Alpha-Ketoglutarate has been researched for: Anti-Aging & Longevity, Exercise Performance, Immune Support, Clinical trials. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 5 out of 10 studies are human trials. The remaining 3 are animal studies. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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