The aging-research one
Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG)
The kind used in most healthy-aging research. Also gives you some calcium.
What variations of alpha-ketoglutarate exist?
A compound your cells make while turning food into energy. Levels drop with age, and it's being studied for healthy aging, mostly in animals so far. It comes in 3 forms, and they aren't all the same. Here's how they differ.
Medical Disclaimer
For education only. What's right for you depends on your health and your medications, so check with your provider before you start or switch. Book a consult
Our top pick
Every form, in plain words
The aging-research one
Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG)
The kind used in most healthy-aging research. Also gives you some calcium.
The plain one
Alpha-ketoglutaric acid
AKG without the calcium. Less studied on its own.
Usually skip
- The workout one (Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG))Sold for workouts. Also gives you arginine, which isn't right for everyone.
Spotting a good one on the shelf
Look for
- Look for 'Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate' on the label (the aging-research one)
Watch out for
- Anti-aging promises based mainly on animal studies
- Workout AAKG sold as if it were the same as Ca-AKG
Check with your provider first if…
- Long-term safety in people isn't well studied
- You have kidney disease. Use it only with your care team.
- You've had kidney stones or high blood calcium (calcium form)
- You're pregnant or breastfeeding
- You get cold sores or genital herpes outbreaks, or have low blood pressure (arginine form)
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Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.