Research

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)

13 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.

0
Meta-analyses
1
Systematic reviews
9
RCTs
3
Other studies
Systematic reviews (8%)
RCTs (69%)

Studies

Sorted by quality and recency

2026·Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association·Tobias Niederegger, Robert Munzinger, Thomas Schaschinger, et al

Metabolic and Immunomodulatory Effects of α-Ketoglutarate in Burn Injuries: A Systematic Review.

Systematic reviewImmunity Nutrition Recovery

Systematic review of α-KG/OKG in burn care, assessing biological mechanisms, delivery strategies, and clinical outcomes. OKG supplementation improved nitrogen balance, preserved muscle mass, and promoted wound healing through enhanced collagen synthesis and immune modulation. Preclinical studies showed α-KG enhances stem cell-driven regeneration and vascularization.

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2025·Experimental gerontology·Zhi Meng Lim, Yi Ern Chew, Lihuan Guan, et al

Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE).

RCTn = 120

The ABLE trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial assessing the effects of 1g sustained-release calcium alpha-ketoglutarate versus placebo over 6 months in 120 generally healthy adults aged 40-60 years with a higher biological age than chronological age. The study demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting biologically older yet generally healthy middle-aged adults for gerotherapeutic interventions.

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2009·Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition·E Sliwa, P Dobrowolski, M R Tatara, et al

Alpha-ketoglutarate protects the liver of piglets exposed during prenatal life to chronic excess of dexamethasone from metabolic and structural changes.

RCT

The study investigated the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on piglets prenatally exposed to dexamethasone. AKG administration postnatally lowered total cholesterol concentration and had a protective effect on liver structure, influencing serum concentrations of macro- and microelements and amino acids.

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2007·International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition·Rafał S Filip, Stefan G Pierzynowski, Birger Lindegard, et al

Alpha-ketoglutarate decreases serum levels of C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: six-month study.

RCTn = 76Joint Bone Health

RCT of 76 postmenopausal women with osteopenia comparing alpha-ketoglutaric acid calcium salt (AKG-Ca) to calcium alone over 6 months. AKG-Ca group showed a significant decrease in serum CTX levels and a non-significant increase in lumbar spine BMD, suggesting potential benefits for bone health.

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2005·Poultry science·M R Tatara, A Brodzki, W Krupski, et al

Effects of alpha-ketoglutarate on bone homeostasis and plasma amino acids in turkeys.

RCTJoint Bone Health

The study evaluated the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on osteopenia development in turkeys. AKG administration improved bone characteristics except for bone length, and altered plasma amino acid concentrations, increasing proline and leucine while decreasing taurine and glutamine.

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2002·Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)·Mikael Wirén, Johan Permert, Jörgen Larsson

Alpha-ketoglutarate-supplemented enteral nutrition: effects on postoperative nitrogen balance and muscle catabolism.

RCTn = 20

RCT evaluating alpha-ketoglutarate enrichment of enteral feeding in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. No significant differences were found in nitrogen balance, excretion of 3-methylhistidine, or clinical outcomes between the enriched and standard nutrition groups.

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1996·Nephron·E Riedel, M Nündel, H Hampl

alpha-Ketoglutarate application in hemodialysis patients improves amino acid metabolism.

RCTNutrition

RCT assessing the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate administration with calcium carbonate on amino acid metabolism in hemodialysis patients. Over 1 year, plasma urea decreased and levels of certain amino acids and alpha-ketoacids increased, indicating improved amino acid metabolism.

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2024·Biomaterials·Xinli Wang, Yufei Xue, Kaili Hao, et al

Sustained therapeutic effects of self-assembled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles loaded with α-Ketoglutarate in various osteoarthritis stages.

Animal studyJoint Bone Health

The study developed self-assembled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles loaded with alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) to treat osteoarthritis in mice. The HA-αKG nanoparticles showed stability, bioavailability, and sustained release, relieving pain, enhancing mobility, and reducing cartilage damage more effectively than HA or αKG alone.

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1998·The Annals of thoracic surgery·A Jeppsson, R Ekroth, P Friberg, et al

Renal effects of alpha-ketoglutarate early after coronary operations.

RCTn = 22

Prospective, randomized, controlled study of 22 patients with normal preoperative renal function undergoing coronary operations. Patients receiving intravenous alpha-ketoglutarate infusion showed enhanced renal blood flow compared to controls, suggesting potential beneficial effects on renal function.

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1997·The Annals of thoracic surgery·U W Kjellman, K Björk, R Ekroth, et al

Addition of alpha-ketoglutarate to blood cardioplegia improves cardioprotection.

RCTn = 24Heart Health

RCT of 24 men undergoing heart operations, testing the addition of alpha-ketoglutarate to blood cardioplegia. Alpha-ketoglutarate treatment was associated with lower creatine kinase isoenzyme MB and troponin T levels, indicating improved myocardial protection.

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1995·Lancet (London, England)·U Kjellman, K Björk, R Ekroth, et al

Alpha-ketoglutarate for myocardial protection in heart surgery.

RCTn = 24Heart Health

RCT involving 24 men undergoing coronary surgery, where 28 g alpha-ketoglutarate was added to blood cardioplegia in 13 cases. Alpha-ketoglutarate reduced the appearance of ischaemic markers creatine kinase MB and troponin T, indicating attenuated ischaemic injury and possibly enhanced myocardial oxidative capacity.

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2020·Ageing research reviews·M. Bayliak, V. Lushchak

Pleiotropic effects of alpha-ketoglutarate as a potential anti-ageing agent.

ReviewLongevity

This review summarizes current knowledge on the metabolic and regulatory functions of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) and its potential anti-ageing effects. AKG is involved in various cellular pathways and has been found to extend lifespan and delay age-associated decline in experimental models. Proposed mechanisms include its role in epigenetic regulation, antioxidant properties, and as a mimetic of caloric restriction.

Semantic ScholarRead on Semantic Scholar
2016·Biomolecules & Therapeutics·N. Wu, Mingyao Yang, U. Gaur, et al

Alpha-Ketoglutarate: Physiological Functions and Applications

ReviewLongevity Gut Health Joint Bone Health

Narrative review of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), highlighting its role in the Krebs cycle, as a nitrogen scavenger, and as a precursor of glutamate and glutamine. AKG can decrease protein catabolism, increase protein synthesis, enhance bone tissue formation, and extend lifespan by inhibiting ATP synthase and TOR.

Semantic ScholarRead on Semantic Scholar