A Guide to Understanding Calcium AKG
What is Calcium AKG?
Around age 40, our bodies begin to produce less alpha ketoglutarate (AKG), resulting in nearly a 90% reduction in alpha ketoglutarate levels at age 80 compared to age 40. AKG is a compound naturally produced in the body that provides fuel for the mitochondria, our “powerhouse cells”. It plays a key role in supporting energy production as well as bone and muscle health.
A decrease in AKG levels may lead to different age-related health issues including weak bones, the feeling of always being tired and heart problems.
AKG cannot be obtained from food. To create a supplemental form, AKG is attached to a calcium molecule through scientific processes. The supplemental form is known as calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) and has been studied for its longevity benefits.
Supplementing with Ca-AKG has many benefits to fight against age-related health issues along with supporting energy levels, bones and muscle health.
Who Should Take Calcium AKG
Individuals looking to improve markers of longevity and reverse biological age may benefit from adding calcium AKG to their longevity protocol.
Research-Supported Benefits of Calcium AKG
Supports Bone Health
As you age, bone density naturally decreases which increases the risk of fractures. Bone health is a key indicator of longevity. A 2020 study conducted with mice found that AKG administration resulted in increases in bone volume, thickness, mass and bone mineral density.
Improves Heart Health
Maintaining a healthy heart is vital in reducing early death and increasing longevity. Supplementation with calcium AKG in mice has been shown to improve antioxidant status and support blood vessel elasticity, key markers associated with good heart health.
Supports Cell Health
As we age, longevity decreases in part due to a decrease in the process known as autophagy. Autophagy is our body’s cellular recycling process that helps clear out damaged and dysfunctional cells.
Low levels of autophagy can cause aging and disease due to a buildup of these damaged cells. Ca-AKG has been found to extend lifespan in animals by increasing autophagy. One study found that AKG supplementation extended the lifespan of worms by ~50%!. Another study found that Ca-AKG extended the lifespan and healthspan of mice by 12% and 41% respectively.
May Reverse Biological Aging
Biological aging is cellular aging due to an accumulation of damage within the body. Unlike chronological aging which assesses your age based on how many years you’ve been alive, biological age assesses cellular health and may even be reversible.
In a retrospective analysis involving human subjects, participants taking 1,000mg of calcium AKG for an average of 7 months experienced an 8-year reversal in biological aging as measured by DNA methylation clocks (biological age testing).
How to Take Calcium AKG
For longevity purposes, it’s recommended to take 1,000 mg in the morning with or without food.
How to Know if Calcium AKG is Effective
Using an at-home biological age testing kit could help. As an experiment, you could take an at-home biological age test before supplementing with calcium AKG. Biological age tests, also known as methylation clocks, provide an estimate of cellular age based on DNA saliva testing. These tests are a fun way to get an idea of how you’re aging on a cellular level.
Take another biological age test in about 6-10 months to see how the calcium AKG impacted your biological age.
Warnings and Interactions for Calcium AKG
While research is ongoing, initial research does not show significant concerns with interactions between calcium AKG and other supplements/medications.
Research shows that there are no significant adverse effects when taken at 4.5 grams for as long as 3 years.
It is recommended that you consult with your doctor before taking calcium AKG or any other supplement. For additional calcium AKG questions and personalized product recommendations, connect with a Nutrition Advisor through the free nutrition consultation service.
References:
- Su, Y., Wang, T., Wu, N., Li, D., Fan, X., Xu, Z., Mishra, S. K., & Yang, M. (2019). Alpha-ketoglutarate extends Drosophila lifespan by inhibiting mTOR and activating AMPK. Aging, 11(12), 4183–4197. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.102045
- Stancu A. L. (2015). AMPK activation can delay aging. Discoveries (Craiova, Romania), 3(4), e53. https://doi.org/10.15190/d.2015.45
- Chin, R. M., Fu, X., Pai, M. Y., Vergnes, L., Hwang, H., Deng, G., Diep, S., Lomenick, B., Meli, V. S., Monsalve, G. C., Hu, E., Whelan, S. A., Wang, J. X., Jung, G., Solis, G. M., Fazlollahi, F., Kaweeteerawat, C., Quach, A., Nili, M., Krall, A. S., … Huang, J. (2014). The metabolite α-ketoglutarate extends lifespan by inhibiting ATP synthase and TOR. Nature, 510(7505), 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13264
- Asadi Shahmirzadi, A., Edgar, D., Liao, C. Y., Hsu, Y. M., Lucanic, M., Asadi Shahmirzadi, A., Wiley, C. D., Gan, G., Kim, D. E., Kasler, H. G., Kuehnemann, C., Kaplowitz, B., Bhaumik, D., Riley, R. R., Kennedy, B. K., & Lithgow, G. J. (2020). Alpha-Ketoglutarate, an Endogenous Metabolite, Extends Lifespan and Compresses Morbidity in Aging Mice. Cell metabolism, 32(3), 447–456.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.08.004
- Demidenko, O., Barardo, D., Budovskii, V., Finnemore, R., Palmer, F. R., Kennedy, B. K., & Budovskaya, Y. V. (2021). Rejuvant®, a potential life-extending compound formulation with alpha-ketoglutarate and vitamins, conferred an average 8 year reduction in biological aging, after an average of 7 months of use, in the TruAge DNA methylation test. Aging, 13(22), 24485–24499. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203736
- Wang, Y., Deng, P., Liu, Y., Wu, Y., Chen, Y., Guo, Y., Zhang, S., Zheng, X., Zhou, L., Liu, W., Li, Q., Lin, W., Qi, X., Ou, G., Wang, C., & Yuan, Q. (2020). Alpha-ketoglutarate ameliorates age-related osteoporosis via regulating histone methylations. Nature communications, 11(1), 5596. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19360-1
- Niemiec, T., Sikorska, J., Harrison, A., Szmidt, M., Sawosz, E., Wirth-Dzieciolowska, E., Wilczak, J., & Pierzynowski, S. (2011). Alpha-ketoglutarate stabilizes redox homeostasis and improves arterial elasticity in aged mice. Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society, 62(1), 37–43.
