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Limited evidenceLongevity & antioxidants

CaAKG (Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate)

Alpha-ketoglutarate is a real Krebs-cycle metabolite that extended lifespan and compressed morbidity in mice, but the human longevity evidence is one small uncontrolled study of a commercial product using an epigenetic clock. Promising biology, no controlled human outcome data.

What the science says

  • Extends lifespan in mice Moderate evidence

    In C57BL/6 mice starting at 18 months, calcium-AKG in feed increased median lifespan roughly 12% overall (about 16% in females) and, more strikingly, reduced frailty scores across multiple domains — the 'compression of morbidity' finding that made AKG famous. This is a well-conducted rodent study, but rodent lifespan results transfer to humans inconsistently at best.

  • Reduces biological age in humans Limited evidence

    The widely cited human result is a retrospective analysis of 42 users of a commercial CaAKG formulation (which also contains vitamins A and D) reporting an average 8-year drop in DNA-methylation age after about 7 months. There was no control group, no randomization, self-selected users, and the study was conducted by parties connected to the product; methylation clocks also drift with assay noise. Treat it as hypothesis-generating, not evidence of benefit.

  • Improves bone density or muscle Limited evidence

    Older ornithine-AKG and arginine-AKG work in surgical, burn and dialysis patients showed nitrogen-balance and wound-healing signals, but those are different salts at gram doses in catabolic patients. There is no adequate RCT showing CaAKG improves bone mineral density, lean mass, or strength in healthy adults.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe mouse study used roughly 2% CaAKG in feed, a dose that scales to well over a gram per kilogram — nowhere near what humans take. Human products supply 1,000–2,000 mg CaAKG per day, usually as two 500–1,000 mg sustained-release tablets, a dose chosen commercially rather than from dose-finding trials. Each gram of CaAKG contributes roughly 100–150 mg elemental calcium, which counts toward your calcium total.
SafetyGenerally well tolerated at 1–2 g/day; reported effects are mild GI upset and, in some, a metallic taste. The calcium load matters for people already taking calcium supplements or at risk of hypercalcemia or calcium-oxalate stones. AKG is a metabolic intermediate feeding glutamate and glutamine pools — a theoretical concern in active cancer, where glutamine metabolism is often upregulated, and enough reason to talk to an oncologist first. Not banned in sport. Long-term human safety data beyond a few months do not exist.

Scientific references

Where to buy

Toniiq, Calcium AKG, 120 Capsules

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