Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a naturally occurring salt of alpha-ketoglutarate, a key metabolite in cellular energy metabolism. Because alpha-ketoglutarate sits at the center of mitochondrial and amino acid metabolism, Ca-AKG has been studied for its potential role in supporting healthy aging. Preclinical research suggests Ca-AKG may influence pathways linked to longevity and metabolic health, and early human studies are exploring its effects on age-related physiology.

This article covers:

• What Is Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG)?
• What Is Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)?
• How Ca-AKG Works in the Body
• Potential Benefits of Ca-AKG for Healthy Aging
• Does AKG Decline With Age?
• Is Ca-AKG Good for Anti-Aging?

Key Takeaways

• Circulating AKG levels tend to decline with age.
• In preclinical studies, AKG/Ca-AKG has been linked to lifespan and healthspan benefits in multiple organisms.
• Ca-AKG supports core energy metabolism pathways tied to mitochondrial function.
• AKG is involved in amino acid metabolism and collagen biology, supporting connective tissue health.
• Early research suggests Ca-AKG may support metabolic health and flexibility under certain conditions.

What Is Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate?

Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a calcium salt of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a naturally occurring molecule and a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), a central pathway cells use to convert nutrients into energy.

The Krebs cycle, first described in the 1930s by Hans Adolf Krebs and colleagues, helps oxidize fuels to generate reducing equivalents that drive ATP production, the cell’s main “energy currency.”

Ca-AKG delivers AKG in a stable, supplement-friendly form. AKG sits at the intersection of energy metabolism and amino-acid biology, and it has been studied for potential roles in cellular stress responses and age-related physiology (R , R). Calcium is an essential mineral in human nutrition, in Ca-AKG, it primarily functions as the counter-ion that forms the salt (R).

Compared with free AKG, salt forms such as Ca-AKG are often used for improved stability and handling, and Ca-AKG is commonly included in longevity-focused formulations like NOVOS Core.

How Does Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) Work in the Body?

Ca-AKG provides alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a natural molecule your cells use in core metabolism (including energy and amino-acid pathways). Beyond its role in basic metabolism, AKG also acts as a metabolic signal, helping cells sense nutrient status and respond to metabolic stress (R).

A key reason AKG is interesting for healthy aging research is that it’s required for a family of enzymes that help regulate gene activity through epigenetic marks, chemical “tags” that influence which genes are turned on or off (R).

Because these pathways intersect with cellular maintenance programs, Ca-AKG has been studied (mostly preclinically) for potential roles in processes like cell differentiation and stem cell function (R).

Human research is still emerging. Ca-AKG has been investigated in specific clinical contexts, including areas related to bone health, and additional trials are ongoing to better characterize its effects on age-related physiology (R, R).

What Are the Benefits of Alpha-Ketoglutarate for Aging and Longevity?

What Are the Benefits of Alpha-Ketoglutarate for Aging and Longevity?

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a naturally occurring metabolite involved in core cellular energy and metabolic pathways. Because AKG sits at the center of these processes, it has been widely studied for its potential role in aging biology. While AKG levels and signaling change with age, much of what we know about its longevity effects comes from preclinical research.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate and Lifespan Extension

Across multiple model organisms, AKG supplementation has been associated with significant lifespan extension under specific experimental conditions:

• Roundworms (C. elegans): Multiple independent studies report lifespan extensions ranging from ~15% up to ~60%, depending on dose, timing, and genetic background (R; R; R; R)

• Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster): AKG supplementation has been shown to increase lifespan by approximately ~8%, alongside improvements in metabolic stress resistance (R).

• Mice (Mus musculus): In a well-known study, late-life supplementation with calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) increased lifespan by approximately ~17% and reduced age-related frailty, effectively compressing morbidity and extending the period of healthier aging (R).

Organism	% Lifespan ↑ (reported)	Study
Mus musculus (mice)	~17%	(R)
Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworms)	~56%	(R)
Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworms)	~60%	(R)
Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworms)	~48%	(R)
Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworms)	~15%	(R)
Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies)	~8%	(R)

Importantly, these findings demonstrate that AKG can influence aging trajectories across diverse species, although the magnitude of effect varies by organism and experimental design.

Is Alpha-Ketoglutarate Good for Anti-Aging?

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a naturally occurring metabolite involved in core cellular metabolism and energy pathways. Changes in AKG levels and signaling have been linked to aging-related metabolic shifts, and lower circulating AKG has been observed in some aging and metabolic contexts.

Preclinical research suggests that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) can influence longevity- and metabolism-related pathways, with reported lifespan and healthspan benefits in multiple model organisms. Human research is still emerging, but Ca-AKG is being studied for its potential to support metabolic health and cellular resilience with age.

In a long-term, real-world study, a sustained-release Ca-AKG dose similar to one NOVOS Core sachet was linked to a nearly 8-year reduction in biological age, measured from DNA in saliva, after several months of daily use (R). This suggests that Ca-AKG supplementation could help slow down certain markers of aging in humans.

NOVOS Core & Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate