A compound that occurs naturally in the energy cycle of every cell.
Why it’s used: Studied for its role in healthy ageing.
Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate, usually shortened to Ca-AKG, is the calcium salt of alpha-ketoglutarate, a molecule that sits at the heart of the Krebs cycle, the series of reactions cells use to release energy from food. Alpha-ketoglutarate is also known as 2-oxoglutarate, and the body makes it all the time, so it is not something you need to get from your diet.
Researchers became interested in it after studies in yeast, worms and mice linked alpha-ketoglutarate to ageing processes, and because blood levels appear to fall as we get older. Pairing it with calcium makes a stable powder that is easy to put into capsules and tablets.
On labels you will see it written as calcium alpha-ketoglutarate, Ca-AKG or calcium 2-oxoglutarate, sometimes alongside vitamins or other healthy-ageing ingredients. Human research is still at an early stage. An observational study of a combination product and a randomised, placebo-controlled trial in middle-aged adults are adding to what we know, but there is no proof yet that it changes how we age.
2 findings behind this ingredient. Hover a card for the detail and the source.
A six-month double-blind trial randomised 76 postmenopausal women with osteopenia to 6 g AKG with calcium or calcium alone. CTX, a bone breakdown marker, fell by 37% with AKG-calcium; the difference in bone density between groups was not significant.
A retrospective analysis of 42 people taking Rejuvant, an AKG and vitamin formulation, for 4 to 10 months found an average 8-year fall in DNA methylation age. The authors note placebo-controlled testing is still needed.
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Ca-AKG is calcium alpha-ketoglutarate, a stable salt of alpha-ketoglutarate, a molecule the body makes as part of its energy cycle. It is sold as a healthy-ageing supplement because research in animals has linked it to ageing processes, though human evidence is still early.
Yes. Each dose supplies some calcium, and the amount varies between products, so check the label for elemental calcium. Add it to any calcium from other supplements or antacids, especially if you have been told to watch your calcium intake.
Not yet. One much-discussed study looked back at people taking a combination product, with no placebo group, so it cannot show cause and effect. A randomised, placebo-controlled trial using 1 g a day is under way and will give clearer answers.
Videos from doctors, research scientists and registered dietitians, for general education. They are independent of Nutra Formulations, do not refer to our products and are not medical advice for you.
CaAKG: the healthspan extender you need to know about?
Dr Eleanor Sheekey, PhD, biochemistry (Cambridge) · The Sheekey Science Show on YouTube
Information only, not medical advice. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your GP or pharmacist first.
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