Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate Benefits for Longevity

Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a naturally occurring compound that plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and longevity. Research suggests that Ca-AKG — included in NOVOS Core — may extend lifespan, improve metabolic flexibility, and support healthy aging by influencing key biological processes.

This article covers:

• What Is Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate?
• What Are Alpha-Ketoglutarate Benefits?
• How Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) Works in the Body
• Is Alpha-Ketoglutarate Good for Anti-Aging?
• Comparing Regular AKG vs. Calcium AKG

Key Takeaways

• Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) naturally declines with age.
• AKG extends lifespan and healthspan in multiple organisms.
• Calcium AKG (Ca-AKG) improves mitochondrial function, energy production, and cellular detoxification.
• Ca-AKG supports collagen production, skin health, and bone density.
• It enables metabolic flexibility, helping cells efficiently switch between energy sources.
• NOVOS Core contains Calcium AKG, a superior, more bioavailable form of AKG.

What Is Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate?

Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a compound formed by combining calcium and alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), the process responsible for generating energy in aerobic organisms. First identified by Hans Adolf Krebs in 1937, this cycle oxidizes nutrients to produce ATP, the body’s primary energy source.

Ca-AKG combines the benefits of calcium, which is essential for bone health, with AKG, a crucial component in metabolic pathways that influence cellular energy, aging, and longevity. Compared to regular AKG, the calcium form (Ca-AKG) offers greater stability and bioavailability, making it the preferred choice in advanced longevity formulations like NOVOS Core.

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

Ca-AKG plays a critical role in various metabolic pathways, supporting energy production, amino acid metabolism, and cellular signaling. As a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle, it helps convert nutrients into energy, contributing to cellular vitality and reducing the effects of aging.

It is also involved in cell metabolism, bone mass maintenance, protein synthesis, epigenetic regulation, stem cell function, differentiation, fertility, and reproductive health.

Potential Health Benefits of Ca-AKG

• Muscle health and recovery: Clinical research suggests that Ca-AKG may support muscle protein synthesis and reduce muscle breakdown, particularly following trauma or surgery. Studies indicate it may also help preserve muscle mass in aging individuals (R).
• Anti-inflammatory properties: Ca-AKG has been shown to modulate inflammation, which could contribute to overall health and longevity.
• Epigenetic regulation and aging: By influencing DNA methylation, Ca-AKG plays a role in gene expression, helping to regulate aging processes and maintain cellular homeostasis.

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

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, energy production, and longevity. However, AKG levels decline with age, contributing to metabolic slowdown and aging-related dysfunction.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate and Lifespan Extension

Research has shown that AKG supplementation can extend lifespan across multiple species:

• C. elegans (roundworms): AKG-fed worms lived significantly longer than controls (R).
• Fruit flies: Studies confirm increased lifespan and enhanced metabolic resilience (R,R,R).
• Mice: A study at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging found that AKG extended lifespan by 12%–16% and healthspan by 40%–52%. The mice not only lived longer but also remained healthier and disease-free for an extended period (R).
• Aging animals: AKG significantly reduced hair graying in aging animals (R).

Is Alpha-Ketoglutarate Good for Anti-Aging?

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) plays a key role in cellular health, metabolism, and aging regulation. As we age, AKG levels decline, contributing to metabolic dysfunction and increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. 

Research suggests that supplementing with calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) may extend lifespan, improve metabolic flexibility, and promote youthful cellular function.

FAQ About Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate: A Key Longevity Supplement

Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a more bioavailable and stable form of AKG, offering extended benefits over plain AKG supplements.

• Sustained absorption, remaining active in the body for longer
• Greater impact on mitochondrial health, metabolism, and epigenetics.
• Scientifically backed longevity benefits, including lifespan extension and improved healthspan

1. How Does Ca-AKG Support Epigenetic Health and Gene Expression?

AKG influences aging at the epigenetic level, helping regulate which genes are activated or silenced.

As we age, epigenetic dysregulation occurs:

• Some genes that should be inactive become active.
• Protective genes, such as those involved in cancer suppression, may be turned off.

This imbalance accelerates cellular aging and disease progression.

A key enzyme in epigenetic regulation is TET (ten-eleven translocation), which plays a role in reprogramming the epigenome to a more youthful state. However, TET enzymes require both AKG and vitamin C to function properly【R】.

NOVOS Core includes both calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) and Vitamin C to maximize these synergistic epigenetic benefits.

2. How Does Ca-AKG Help with Metabolic Flexibility and Energy Production?

As we age, our cells become less efficient at switching between carbohydrates and amino acids for energy. AKG helps:

• Maintain metabolic flexibility, ensuring optimal energy utilization.
• Improve mitochondrial function, as AKG serves as a direct fuel source for mitochondria.
• Activate AMPK, a major longevity switch that helps regulate energy metabolism【R】.

3. How Does Ca-AKG Support Detoxification?

With age, the body becomes less efficient at clearing metabolic waste, such as ammonia, a byproduct of protein metabolism.

Excess ammonia is toxic, leading to:

• Increased fatigue.
• Cognitive decline.
•  Metabolic stress.

AKG binds to and neutralizes ammonia, supporting detoxification and metabolic balance【R】.

4. How Does Ca-AKG Support Stem Cells and Tissue Repair?

AKG plays a crucial role in stem cell health, ensuring that tissues continue to regenerate efficiently as we age.

• Supports stem cell maintenance and differentiation 【R】.
• Helps repair and regenerate tissues.
• Contributes to bone and gut metabolism【R】.

5. How Does Ca-AKG Promote Collagen & Improve Skin Health?

Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) plays a role in maintaining youthful skin by supporting collagen production and reducing fibrosis.

• Boosts collagen synthesis, keeping skin firm and elastic.
• Reduces fibrosis, which contributes to skin stiffness and aging【R,R】.
• Protects against oxidative stress, preventing premature skin damage.

Comparing Regular AKG vs. Calcium AKG

Most AKG supplements contain plain alpha-ketoglutarate, which:

• Absorbs quickly and is excreted faster, limiting its longevity benefits.
• Lacks sustained effects on cellular metabolism and mitochondrial health.

On the other hand, calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG):

• Provides longer-lasting effects due to gradual absorption.
• Supports energy production, epigenetic regulation, and detoxification more efficiently.
• Is included in NOVOS Core at an optimal dose for maximum longevity benefits.

Why Is Ca-AKG Good for Anti-Aging?

Calcium alpha-ketoglutarate checks all the boxes of an ideal longevity molecule:

• Clinically backed for lifespan and healthspan extension.
• Addresses multiple aging pathways, from epigenetics to mitochondrial function.
• Naturally occurring in the body, yet declines with age, making supplementation beneficial.
• Safe, well-tolerated, and backed by decades of research.

For these reasons, calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG) is a foundational ingredient in NOVOS Core, helping people optimize their biology for longer, healthier lives. 

NOVOS Core & Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate