α-Ketoglutaric acid is one of two ketone derivatives of glutaric acid.
Contents
Uses
Alpha-ketoglutaric acid is often said to enhance athletic performance. Some alternative medicine proponents claim that use of alpha-ketoglutaric acid can help stimulate the body’s production of protein, stabilize blood sugar levels during exercise, and improve exercise endurance.
In alternative medicine, alpha-ketoglutaric acid is also said to help with the following health problems:
- bacterial infections
- cataracts
- kidney disease
- yeast infections
Benefits
1) Hemodialysis
Alpha-ketoglutarate may be of some benefit to people undergoing hemodialysis. In a study published in the journal Nephron in 1996, researchers found that administering a combination of alpha-ketoglutarate and calcium carbonate to hemodialysis patients helped boost amino acid metabolism and decrease hyperphosphatemia (a condition marked by abnormally elevated levels of phosphate in the blood).
2) Cardiac Surgery
Alpha-ketoglutarate may help improve kidney function among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, according to a 1998 study from the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The study involved 22 people with normal kidney function prior to undergoing cardiac surgery. Of those patients, 11 people received an intravenous infusion of alpha-ketoglutarate an hour after their surgery.
Study results suggest that alpha-ketoglutarate may enhance blood flow in the kidneys.
3) Longevity
A 2014 study published in Nature suggests that alpha-ketoglutarate may show promise in increasing longevity. In tests on the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the study’s authors determined that alpha-ketoglutarate interfered with cellular energy production and mimicked the effects of diets very low in calories, which have been shown to extend the lifespan of certain animals. According to the study’s authors, alpha-ketoglutarate boosted the lifespan of the treated worms by approximately 50% over untreated controls. Further study is needed to see what effects the compound would have in humans.
Cautions
Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of supplements containing alpha-ketoglutaric acid. However, there’s some concern that consumption of alpha-ketoglutaric acid may irritate the esophagus and/or upset the stomach.
It’s important to keep in mind that supplements haven’t been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. Also, the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
α-KG, also called oxo-glutarate
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Ketoglutaric_acid
Altmedicine, http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Alpha-ketoglutaric-Acid.htm