September 29, 2026
Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a supplement form of a molecule your cells make every day as part of energy metabolism.
Blood levels of AKG decline with age. In a 2020 study at the Buck Institute, adding Ca-AKG to the diet of middle aged mice reduced frailty and modestly extended lifespan. Human data is early but promising.
Key facts
- AKG is a central intermediate in the Krebs cycle, the pathway mitochondria use to produce energy.
- AKG extended lifespan in worms by about 50% (Chin et al., Nature, 2014).
- In mice, Ca-AKG compressed the period of late-life frailty and modestly extended lifespan (Asadi Shahmirzadi et al., Cell Metabolism, 2020).
- Human evidence so far is a small uncontrolled study on epigenetic age. Randomized trials are underway.
What is alpha-ketoglutarate?
Alpha-ketoglutarate is a small metabolite produced inside mitochondria during the Krebs cycle. It does several jobs:
- Energy metabolism. It sits at the hub where carbohydrate, fat and amino acid metabolism meet.
- Collagen production. It is a required partner for the enzymes that build stable collagen in skin, bone and connective tissue.
- Epigenetic maintenance. It is a cofactor for TET and other enzymes that modify DNA and histones, the chemical tags that control which genes are on or off.
- Nitrogen balance. It helps shuttle nitrogen and supports the synthesis of glutamine and glutamate.
Because AKG is involved in so many processes, a decline with age could affect metabolism, tissue repair and gene regulation at once.
Researchers have reported that blood AKG levels fall substantially between middle and old age.
Why the calcium form?
AKG is paired with calcium to make a stable, slow releasing salt. Calcium AKG is the form used in the landmark mouse study and in most human longevity research, so it is the best-studied option.
What does the research show?
In worms. In 2014, Randall Chin and colleagues at UCLA reported in Nature that AKG extended the lifespan of C. elegans by around 50%. It worked partly by modulating ATP synthase and dialing down TOR signaling, a nutrient-sensing pathway strongly linked to aging.
In mice. The key study came in 2020 from Azar Asadi Shahmirzadi, Gordon Lithgow and colleagues at the Buck Institute, published in Cell Metabolism. Mice started eating Ca-AKG at 18 months, roughly equivalent to middle age in humans. The treated mice showed:
- A marked reduction in frailty, including better fur, gait and physical condition.
- A modest increase in lifespan, clearest in females.
- Lower levels of inflammatory signaling, with increased production of the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10.
The most striking finding was that Ca-AKG compressed morbidity.
The mice spent less of their lives frail. For people, that goal, more healthy years rather than just more years, is what matters most.
In humans. In 2021, Natalia Demidenko and colleagues published a study in Aging on 42 people taking a Ca-AKG formula for an average of seven months.
Their DNA methylation age, a measure of biological age, dropped by an average of about eight years. This is an interesting signal, but the study had no placebo group, so it cannot prove cause and effect. Randomized controlled trials of Ca-AKG in middle-aged adults are underway.
How much Calcium AKG should you take?
Human studies of Ca-AKG for healthy aging have generally used about 1 gram per day. Ares contains 1,000 mg, in line with that research.
Is Calcium AKG safe?
AKG is a normal part of human metabolism, and Ca-AKG has been well tolerated in the studies published so far.
Some people notice mild digestive effects. Because it contains calcium, count it toward your total calcium intake.
People with kidney disease, a history of kidney stones or high blood calcium, or who are pregnant or nursing should talk to a doctor first.
The bottom line
Ca-AKG is a strong candidate with an honest caveat.
The mechanism is well understood and the mouse data is compelling, especially for healthspan. The human evidence is still early.
We include it because it supports mitochondrial metabolism and cellular maintenance in a way no other Ares ingredient does. See how it fits in My Longevity Stack and compare it in Longevity Supplements That Actually Have Human Data.
FAQ
What is Ca-AKG? Ca-AKG is calcium alpha-ketoglutarate, a stable supplement form of a metabolite produced in your mitochondria. Levels of AKG decline with age.
Does AKG reverse biological age? One small human study reported lower epigenetic age after about seven months, but it lacked a placebo group. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the effect.
Can I get AKG from food? Not in meaningful amounts. Your body makes AKG internally, and dietary sources contribute very little.
What's the difference between AKG and Ca-AKG? AKG is the active molecule. Ca-AKG binds it to calcium for stability and is the form used in the main longevity research.
Published by the SciRouter Editorial Team for general educational purposes. Last updated September 2026.
Educational disclaimer. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It summarizes published scientific research and does not endorse any specific product, supplement, drug, or treatment. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed physician before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.
