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

doi:10.1016/j.tem.2021.11.003

Alpha-Ketoglutarate dietary supplementation to improve health in humans

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Feb;33(2):136-146. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.11.003. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

Authors

Bibek Gyanwali¹, Zi Xiang Lim¹, Janjira Soh², Clarissa Lim³, Shou Ping Guan¹, Jorming Goh⁴, Andrea B Maier⁵, Brian K Kennedy⁶

Affiliations

¹ Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
² Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, Singapore.
³ Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁴ Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine and Aged Care, @AgeMelbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁶ Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, Singapore. Electronic address: bkennedy@nus.edu.sg.

PMID: 34952764
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.11.003

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.

Keywords: antioxidant; cellular respiration; citric acid cycle; healthspan; ketoglutaric acids; supplement.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antioxidants* / metabolism
Citric Acid Cycle
Dietary Supplements
Humans
Ketoglutaric Acids* / metabolism
Ketoglutaric Acids* / therapeutic use
Mice

Substances

Antioxidants
Ketoglutaric Acids