Alpha-ketoglutarate is a natural compound that works in many pathways in the body, including making muscle and healing wounds. It's also used as medicine.
Alpha-ketoglutarate seems to help the body rebuild muscle and reduce muscle loss after surgery or trauma. It might also have anti-aging effects.
People use alpha-ketoglutarate for long-term kidney disease. It is also used for aging, aging skin, athletic performance, liver disease, complications after surgery, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Don't confuse alpha-ketoglutarate with ornithine ketoglutarate. These are not the same.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- Long-term kidney disease (chronic kidney disease or CKD). Taking alpha-ketoglutarate by mouth seems to improve results of certain lab tests used to monitor the effectiveness of hemodialysis in patients receiving this treatment.
There is interest in using alpha-ketoglutarate for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Alpha-ketoglutarate is possibly safe when used for up to 3 years.
When applied to the skin: Alpha-ketoglutarate is possibly safe when used for up to 8 weeks.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if alpha-ketoglutarate is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
It is not known if Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) interacts with any medicines. Before taking Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG), talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
Phosphate salts: Taking calcium alpha-ketoglutarate along with phosphate salts might reduce the effects of phosphate salts. But alpha-ketoglutarate supplements that do not contain calcium are unlikely to interact with phosphate salts.
There are no known interactions with foods.
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of alpha-ketoglutarate might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
A-cétoglutarate, A-Ketoglutaric Acid, Acide 2-Oxoglutarique, Acide a-cétoglutarique, Acide Alpha-Cétoglutarique, Alfa-Cetoglutarato, Alpha-Cétoglutarate, Alpha-Cétoglutarate d'Arginine, Alpha-Cétoglutarate de Calcium, Alpha-Cétoglutarate de Créatine, Alpha-Cétoglutarate de Glutamine, Alpha-Cétoglutarate de L-Arginine, Alpha-Cétoglutarate de L-Leucine, Alpha-Cétoglutarate de Taurine, Alpha Keto Glutaric Acid, Alpha Ketoglutarate, Alpha Ketoglutaric Acid, Alpha KG, AAKG, AKG, Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Creatine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Glutamine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, L-Arginine AKG, L-Arginine Alpha Keto Glutarate, L-Leucine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Oxoglutarate, Taurine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, 2-Oxoglutaric Acid, 2-Oxopentanedioic Acid.
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