α-Ketoglutaric Acid (AKG)

α-Ketoglutaric acid (AKG) is a naturally occurring intermediate in the Krebs cycle (TCA cycle), which serves as the core metabolic pathway responsible for cellular energy production.

In biological systems, AKG plays a pivotal role:

• Facilitating ATP energy production
• Participating in amino acid metabolism
• Regulating nitrogen balance
• Supporting cellular antioxidant defense
Given its central role in metabolism, AKG has become a key ingredient in longevity supplements, sports nutrition formulas, and functional health products.
Shanghai AIDU Biotechnology Co., Ltd. supplies high-purity α-ketoglutaric acid powder (purity ≥99.9%), specifically designed for global dietary supplement manufacturers, nutraceutical brands, and formulation scientists.

Product Description

Appearance: White or off-white powder
Solubility: Easily soluble in water, alcohols, and ketones
CAS No.: 328-50-7
Molecular Weight: 146.10
Molecular Formula: C₅H₆O₅
pH Value: 1-3

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Product Specifications

Product Process and Advantages

· Green Biosynthesis, Safe and Residue-Free: Adopting a bio-fermentation process to replace traditional chemical synthesis, it eliminates heavy metal residues and by-product contamination at the source. The product is homologous to the endogenous AKG in the human body, ensuring excellent biocompatibility.

The entire production process strictly adheres to GMP standards, covering the full chain from strain screening → fermentation conversion → extraction and refining → purification and impurity removal → drying and crystallization → testing and analysis → finished product packaging. The industrialization base is equipped with advanced fermentation and purification equipment as well as precision testing instruments. It has established four major technical platforms: synthetic biology R&D, application mechanism R&D, microbial fermentation, and analysis and testing, achieving full-chain quality control from raw materials to finished products. The product has successfully passed multiple internationally authoritative certifications, including FSSC22000, HALAL, and KOSHER.

· High Purity and High Activity, Quality Meets International Standards: Achieving high product purity through a multi-stage purification process, the content of the main component reaches 99.9%. All physical, chemical, and microbial indicators far exceed industry standards, ensuring strong biological activity.
· Stable Physicochemical Properties, Strong Compatibility: The product is in a stable powder form, making it easy to store and process. Different derivative categories (pure product, calcium salt, arginine complex) can be flexibly formulated according to application scenarios, precisely meeting the concentration, solubility, and functional requirements of various fields such as dietary supplements, cosmetics, and food additives.
· Extensive Scientific Research, Authoritative Efficacy Support: With over 400 research papers published in international core medical journals such as Nature, Cell, and Aging, and 12 human clinical trials validating its efficacy, the product's benefits cover nine major health fields including anti-aging, sports nutrition, and bone health, with a thorough understanding of its mechanism of action.
· Significant Cost Advantage, Outstanding Cost-effectiveness: Leveraging mature industrial fermentation technology and large-scale production capabilities, it offers lower application costs compared to similar anti-aging and nutritional supplement ingredients while ensuring comprehensive efficacy, significantly reducing the product development and production investment for downstream customers.

Product Functions and Mechanisms

As a core component of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, α-ketoglutarate serves as a critical hub in the body's metabolism. It exerts physiological functions by regulating multiple dimensions, ranging from cellular energy metabolism and gene expression to substance synthesis. Its core mechanisms of action center on energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and redox balance. The specific functions are as follows:

1.Support Cellular Energy Metabolism, Boost Body Vitality

AKG can freely diffuse across the outer mitochondrial membrane and traverse the inner mitochondrial membrane via the malate-aspartate shuttle system. It directly participates in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to supply energy to cells, bypassing the preparatory stages of glycolysis and the TCA cycle, thereby greatly enhancing the body's metabolic efficiency. Meanwhile, as a precursor to glutamine and glutamate, it ensures the normal operation of cells in the liver, kidneys, intestines, as well as the immune system and neurons.

* AMPK Signaling Pathway

Additionally, AKG can activate the AMPK signaling pathway, reduce muscle energy expenditure, promote fat metabolism, increase the body's energy reserves, and thus improve the overall energy state.

2. Delay the Aging Process and Extend Healthspan

*α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

AKG can significantly suppress the expression of mTOR and the activity of ATP synthase, downregulate aging-related signaling pathways, and reduce the release of chronic inflammatory factors, thereby delaying cellular senescence. Human clinical trials have demonstrated that daily supplementation with an appropriate amount of AKG can reduce the biological aging age by an average of nearly 7.8 years, effectively mitigating age-related physiological decline. Moreover, AKG can enhance the telomere maintenance system, inhibit reproductive aging, restore ovarian reserve and fertility, and delay the age-related decline in the quality and quantity of oocytes.

3. Promote Protein Synthesis, Enhance Muscle Growth and Fat Loss, and Improve Athletic Performance

As a precursor to glutamine, AKG supplies raw materials for the synthesis of non-essential amino acids, driving the process of protein synthesis in the body. Meanwhile, through the PHD3/ADRB2 pathway, it prevents skeletal muscle protein degradation, reduces the risk of muscle atrophy, and thus increases muscle mass and strength;

*AKG activates adrenal signaling pathways to enhance thermogenesis

and lipolysis, thereby supporting weight loss and metabolic regulation.

It can specifically promote brown fat formation, activate the OXGR1-dependent adrenal pathway, reduce white fat accumulation, shrink adipocyte volume, and effectively prevent diet-induced obesity. In the field of sports, AKG can enhance maximal aerobic power, reduce post-exercise lactic acid buildup, extend endurance exercise duration, improve anaerobic strength and jumping ability, while preventing the risk of post-exercise ammonia poisoning and accelerating post-exercise recovery.

4. Safeguard Bone Health and Prevent Osteoporosis

AKG can regulate histone methylation, promote the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, increase bone mass in the elderly, and accelerate bone tissue regeneration. It can lower the level of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) in the serum of postmenopausal women, enhance lumbar spine bone mineral density, and inhibit bone resorption and mineral loss. Meanwhile, AKG promotes chondrocyte metabolism, facilitates the accumulation of extracellular matrix, and reduces the toxicity caused by ammonia accumulation in the culture medium, comprehensively protecting bone and joint health.

5. Empower Body Health in Multiple Dimensions and Optimize Physiological State

Skin Health: It promotes the synthesis of proline and hydroxyproline, accelerates collagen production, strengthens skin barrier function and hydration, reduces wrinkles, improves skin firmness, repairs skin lesions and dermatitis, and slows down the skin aging process.

Brain Health: It scavenges free radicals, exerts antioxidant effects, alleviates oxidative damage to neurons, optimizes the morphology of nerve cells in the hippocampal CA1 region, and enhances learning, memory, and spatial discrimination abilities.

Immune Regulation: It significantly increases the levels of IgG and IgM in plasma, elevates the body's immunoglobulin levels, and strengthens the body's immune defense capabilities.

Postoperative Recovery: It participates in the ornithine cycle, maintains the body's nitrogen and protein balance, reduces the loss of free amino acids after surgery, prevents muscle protein breakdown, and provides strong support for postoperative physical recovery.

Organ Protection: It regulates the acid-base balance of renal tubules, lowers ammonia content, and enhances renal function; alleviates myocardial ischemic injury, reduces plasma low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol concentrations, and protects cardiovascular health; maintains intestinal integrity and reduces damage to intestinal epithelial cells.

Typical Formulation Combinations

AKG can be synergistically combined with various functional ingredients to achieve complementary effects and create high-value formulation products:

· Anti-aging Formulation: AKG + NADH + Coenzyme Q10

synergistically activating mitochondrial function, delaying cellular aging, and enhancing anti-aging effects;
· Sports Nutrition Formulation: AKG + Creatine + L-Carnitine

facilitating ATP regeneration, promoting fat metabolism, and improving athletic endurance and muscle-building efficiency;
· Bone Health Formulation: AKG + Calcium + Vitamin D

synergistically increasing bone density, promoting bone matrix synthesis, and alleviating osteoporosis;
· Skin Care Formulation: AKG + Collagen + Niacinamide

stimulating skin collagen synthesis, brightening skin tone, and enhancing skin hydration and firmness.

Applications

·Dietary Supplements: As a core ingredient, it is extensively applied in various functional dietary supplements. The dosage can be flexibly adjusted based on efficacy requirements, making it an ideal choice for anti-aging, sports nutrition, bone health, and post-operative recovery products.

1. Anti-aging Category: The recommended daily intake is 0.5-1.0g, with core benefits of reversing biological age and delaying the aging process;
2. Sports Nutrition Category: The recommended daily intake is 3.5-6.0g, used for muscle building and fat reduction, enhancing athletic performance, relieving fatigue, and accelerating post-exercise recovery;
3. Bone Health Category: Specifically designed for the middle-aged, elderly, and postmenopausal women, it helps improve osteoporosis and increase bone density;
4. Post-operative Recovery Category: Aids in maintaining the body's nitrogen balance, reducing post-operative muscle breakdown, and promoting rapid physical recovery.
·Cosmetics: Leveraging its core antioxidant and collagen-synthesis-promoting effects, it is widely used in skincare and haircare products, with differentiated addition strategies for leave-on and rinse-off products:
1. Leave-on Products (creams, serums, lotions, etc.): The addition amount is ≤0.01%, focusing on anti-wrinkle, moisturizing, and skin firming, as well as enhancing skin elasticity and barrier function;
2. Rinse-off Products (shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, etc.): Added as needed, it provides antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-itching, and odor-inhibiting effects, while offering nutritional skincare benefits.
·Food Additives: In strict compliance with food regulations and standards of multiple countries worldwide, it is used as a food flavor/seasoning and flavor enhancer as required. It is suitable for the processing of various foods and beverages, meeting the regulatory requirements of China's GB2760, the EU's (EC) 1334/2008, and the US GRAS. It not only improves the compatibility of food flavors but also endows food with certain functional value.
·Animal Health: As an innovative feed additive, it is applied in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries. It promotes animal growth and development, increases bone density, enhances immunity and stress resistance, and improves animal reproductive performance, thereby boosting breeding efficiency.

Packaging & Storage

Packaging Specifications: 1kg/aluminum foil bag, 5kg/aluminum foil bag, 10kg/aluminum foil bag, and 25kg/cardboard drum. Customized packaging specifications are available according to customer requirements.

Storage Conditions: Store in a sealed, light-proof, dry, and well-ventilated place. Keep away from high temperatures and humid environments, and avoid co-storage with toxic, harmful, or odorous substances.

Shelf Life: 24 months

Why Choose Us as Your AKG Supplier

We are a professional manufacturer and supplier of high-quality α-Ketoglutaric acid (AKG) and its derivatives, serving the global nutraceutical, cosmetic, food additive, and animal health industries.

Our core advantages include:

• Integrated R&D, production, and supply chain system
• Stable large-scale production capacity with consistent quality
• Strict multi-level quality control with authoritative international certifications
• Customized product solutions for diverse application scenarios
• Extensive export experience and reliable global supply

We are dedicated to empowering our partners with premium AKG raw materials, competitive pricing, and long-term stable supply reliability.

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References:

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[2] Chin R M, Fu X, Pai M Y, et al. The metabolite α-ketoglutarate extends lifespan by inhibiting ATP synthase and TOR[J]. Nature, 2014,510(7505):397-401.

[3] Shahmirzadi A A, Edgar D, Liao C Y, et al. Alpha-ketoglutarate, an endogenous metabolite, extends lifespan and compresses morbidity in aging mice[J]. Cell Metabolism,

2020,32(3):447-456.

[4] Demidenko O, Barardo D, Budovskii V, et al. Rejuvant®, a potential life-extending compound formulation with alpha-ketoglutarate and vitamins, conferred an average 8 year reduction in biological aging[J]. Aging (Albany NY), 2021,13(22):24485-24499.

[5] Zhang Z, He C, Gao Y, et al. α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals[J]. Aging Cell, 2021,20(2):e13291.

[6] Li X, et al. Alpha-ketoglutarate improves ovarian function insufficiency by inhibiting apoptosis and upregulating glycolysis[J]. Journal of Ovarian Research, 2023.

[7] Yuan Y, Xu P, Jiang Q, et al. Exercise‐induced α‐ketoglutaric acid stimulates muscle hypertrophy and fat loss through OXGR1‐dependent adrenal activation[J]. The EMBO Journal, 2020,39(7):e103304.

[8] Cai X, Yuan Y, Liao Z, et al. α-Ketoglutarate prevents skeletal muscle protein degradation and muscle atrophy through PHD3/ADRB2 pathway[J]. The FASEB Journal, 2018,32(1):488-501.

[9] Campbell B, Roberts M, Kerksick C, et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and effects on exercise performance of L-arginine α-ketoglutarate in trained adult men[J]. Nutrition, 2006,22(9):872-881.

[10] Kaczka P, Kubicka K, Batra A, et al. Effects of Co-ingestion of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate and L-arginine αketoglutarate on jump performance in young track and field athletes[J]. Nutrients, 2021,13(4):1064.

[11] Wang Y, Deng P, Liu Y, et al. Alpha-ketoglutarate ameliorates age-related osteoporosis via regulating histone methylations[J]. Nature Communications, 2020,11(1):5596.

[12] Filip R, Pierzynowski S G, Lindegard B, et al. Alpha-ketoglutarate decreases serum levels of C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: six-month study[J]. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 2007,77(2):89-97.

[13] Yang F, Zhou Z, Guo M, et al. The study of skin hydration, anti‐wrinkles function improvement of anti‐aging cream with alpha‐ketoglutarate[J]. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022,21(4):1736-1743.

[14] Son E D, Choi G H, Kim H, et al. Alpha-ketoglutarate stimulates procollagen production in cultured human dermal fibroblasts, and decreases UVB-induced wrinkle formation[J]. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2007,30(8):1395-1399.

[15] Wernerman J, Hammarqvist F, Vinnars E. α-Ketoglutarate and postoperative muscle catabolism[J]. The Lancet, 1990,335(8691):701-703.

[16] Jeppsson A, Ekroth R, Friberg P, et al. Renal effects of α-ketoglutarate early after coronary operations[J]. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1998,65(3):684-690.

[17] Kjellman U, Björk K, Ekroth R, et al. α-Ketoglutarate for myocardial protection in heart surgery[J]. The Lancet, 1995,345(8949):552-553.