Does David Sinclair Take Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG)?

Although Dr Sinclair hasn’t yet said he’s taking Ca-AKG, I think there’s a chance that he may do in the future.

Whilst he tweeted about Ca-AKG in 2020 and 2021, perhaps the biggest indicator of his interest in Ca-AKG is via the supplement startup he founded; Tally Health. Their supplement called “vitality” composes of the following ingredients:

Interestingly, David has publicly mentioned taking all of these except Ca-AKG.

(If you’ve heard David mention taking Ca-AKG somewhere – please let me know in the comments!)

Table of Contents

What is Ca-AKG?

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) is a key molecule in the Krebs Cycle (or Citric Acid Cycle), a fundamental pathway that cells use to produce energy. Specifically, AKG plays a role in amino acid metabolism and the production of ATP, which is the primary energy currency of cells.

Why is Ca-AKG of interest for longevity?

Interestingly, human plasma AKG levels decline approximately 10-fold (10x) between the ages of 40 and 80¹.

In 2020 a study found that Ca-AKG increased the relative lifespan by 10% in female mice and 5% in male mice.

This increase was attributed to a reduction in the levels of systemic inflammatory cytokines and an induction of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. More research is needed to determine if these benefits translate to humans.

As an aside, the Ca prefix in Ca-AKG refers to the compound being bound to calcium. This binding makes the supplement suitable for consumption and helps increase its shelf life.

Examples of where to buy Ca-AKG include:

Double Wood – Ca-AKG – 500 mg * 180 capsules (see 15% off coupon code)
DoNotAge – Ca-AKG – 400 mg * 60 or 360 capsules (can ship from within EU) – 10% off with this discount code
vitalityPro – Ca-AKG – 500 mg * 120 or 240 capsules (ships from UK)