Alpha-Ketoglutarate study: The forgotten molecule that might help you age better

Scientists from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam recently published a comprehensive review titled “Alpha-Ketoglutarate dietary supplementation to improve health in humans [1].” In it, they explore a question that has been quietly shaping the field of longevity research: could a simple molecule that our body already produces be one of the keys to staying healthy as we age?

What is AKG, and why is it important?

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) is a natural compound produced inside every cell of the body. It’s part of the chain of reactions that help us convert food into usable energy [2]. But the review emphasizes that AKG is much more than an energy molecule; it’s also deeply involved in how our body repairs tissues, supports bone and muscle, and maintains overall metabolic balance [3–5].

The authors explain that AKG acts almost like a “nutrient communicator,” helping different systems in the body, from muscles and bones to the immune system, work together more efficiently. Due to this wide-ranging role, even small changes in AKG levels can impact how resilient we feel and how well our body adapts to stress or aging.

Related: What is Ca-AKG? Benefits, dosage and side effects

What happens to AKG as we age?

One of the most striking findings discussed in the review is how sharply AKG levels decline with age. Across animal studies and metabolic data from humans, AKG appears to decrease dramatically, by what the researchers describe as a substantial or dramatic decline. This drop may help explain why aging often comes with slower recovery, reduced muscle strength, and weaker bone structure.

The review suggests that this natural decline makes AKG a compelling candidate for dietary supplementation: if our bodies produce less of it over time, could restoring those levels help preserve health and vitality?

Evidence from animal and human studies

The researchers collected evidence from dozens of studies, ranging from cell models to clinical trials. In animals, supplementing AKG has consistently shown benefits: better muscle preservation, stronger bones, improved wound healing, and even signs of extended lifespan and reduced inflammation. These effects appear to come not from a single pathway but from AKG’s broad influence on how cells use energy and respond to stress.

When it comes to humans, the evidence is still limited, but promising. Clinical studies in older adults and patients recovering from surgery have found that AKG supplementation can improve nitrogen balance (a marker of muscle maintenance), support bone density, and aid recovery. The review highlights that AKG’s safety record is strong, with doses up to 6 grams per day generally well tolerated.

The authors also note that some of the more recent human trials using Calcium-Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG), a more stable form of AKG, have shown small but measurable improvements in bone strength and biological aging markers. These studies are still early, but together they suggest that AKG could play a supportive role in promoting healthy aging, especially when taken in a bioavailable form.

The challenges ahead

Despite the growing excitement, the review is careful to point out that AKG research in humans is still young. One of the main challenges is that AKG is quickly broken down in the body, often within minutes, which makes it difficult to maintain stable blood levels through simple supplementation.

The authors call for more studies to determine the best form and dose of AKG, the long-term safety of supplementation, and how exactly it affects key biological processes like inflammation, metabolism, and epigenetic aging. In short, the science looks promising, but there’s still much to learn.

From research to real life

What makes the findings of the VU review so exciting is their practical potential. If AKG helps keep our cells more efficient and our metabolism more balanced, then supporting those levels, especially later in life, could be one of the simplest ways to promote long-term health.

That’s exactly the idea behind our Ca-AKG supplement. It’s formulated using AKG in a calcium-bound form, designed for better stability and absorption. By helping to restore natural AKG levels that decline with age, it offers a science-based way to support energy, muscle, and bone health, in line with what the latest research from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is beginning to reveal.

As the authors conclude, AKG may not be a miracle cure, but it is a promising step toward healthier aging. And sometimes, the smallest molecules can make the biggest difference.

You might also like to read this blog: Study: Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) breakthrough in aging and health span.