→ Promotes longevity
→ Improves the health of older people
→ Has a beneficial effect on the epigenome
→ Allows metabolic flexibility
→ Improves mitochondrial health
Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a small molecule that is naturally produced in the body. As we age, AKG levels gradually decrease. Studies have shown that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (CaAKG) helps increase lifespan and reduces a number of age-related problems by up to 40%.
AKG has a beneficial effect on various mechanisms of aging (such as epigenetic and mitochondrial dysfunction). The epigenome is the complex molecular machinery that determines which genes are turned on or off. The older we get, the more the epigenome becomes dysregulated. Thus, some genes that should be “silent” are turned on, and other genes that should be active (such as cancer protection genes) are turned off. This epigenetic dysregulation is one of the causes of aging. TET is an important enzyme that can reprogram the epigenome to a more youthful state. This enzyme needs alpha-ketoglutarate to function properly.
Alpha-ketoglutarate is a source of energy for mitochondria. AKG is also essential for carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. As cells age, they lose their flexibility in switching between carbohydrates and amino acids for energy production. AKG can help cells maintain this metabolic flexibility for longer.
AKG activates AMPK, an important switch in metabolism and longevity. AKG also plays a role in maintaining stem cell health.
Alpha-ketoglutarate helps detoxify the body from ammonia. Ammonia is a waste product of protein metabolism that tends to accumulate in the body and is toxic in larger amounts.
Scientists believe that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate is a significantly better form and offers additional benefits compared to alpha-ketoglutarate. One reason for this is that CaAKG is absorbed and released more slowly, so it has a longer effect in the body.
CaAKG can be used to restore normal calcium concentration in the blood. It binds excess phosphate and removes it as a waste product, restoring the normal balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate is used as a supplement for bodybuilders, whose calcium levels are often low due to high protein intake. Additionally, because AKG serves as a fuel for mitochondria, it can provide more energy and endurance.
CaAKG is also involved in collagen production, can reduce fibrosis and thus plays a role in maintaining healthy and youthful skin.
