Alpha-Ketoglutarate dietary supplementation to improve health in humans

Bibek Gyanwali, Zi Xiang Lim, Janjira Soh, Clarissa Lim, Shou Ping Guan, Jorming Goh, Andrea B. Maier, Brian K. Kennedy*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is an intermediate in the Krebs cycle involved in various metabolic and cellular pathways. As an antioxidant, AKG interferes in nitrogen and ammonia balance, and affects epigenetic and immune regulation. These pleiotropic functions of AKG suggest it may also extend human healthspan. Recent studies in worms and mice support this concept. A few studies published in the 1980s and 1990s in humans suggested the potential benefits of AKG in muscle growth, wound healing, and in promoting faster recovery after surgery. So far there are no recently published studies demonstrating the role of AKG in treating aging and age-related diseases; hence, further clinical studies are required to better understand the role of AKG in humans. This review will discuss the regulatory role of AKG in aging, as well as its potential therapeutic use in humans to treat age-related diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)136-146
Number of pages11
JournalTrends in Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume33
Issue number2
Early online date21 Dec 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National University of Singapore (Start-up Grant DPRT , R183000413133 , and Interventions for Healthy Longevity Grant, R-171-000-083-750 ) and the National University Health System, Centre for Healthy Longevity Grant ( SPOT20AHS3O ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • antioxidant
  • cellular respiration
  • citric acid cycle
  • healthspan
  • ketoglutaric acids
  • supplement

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