High-Purity Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) Powder for Longevity, Energy & Sports Nutrition Formulas

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) Overview

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG), also known as alpha-ketoglutaric acid or 2-oxoglutaric acid, is a naturally occurring keto acid with the CAS number 328-50-7 and the molecular formula C5H6O5 (molecular weight 146.10 g/mol). It is the salt-forming backbone of a family of commercial ingredients that includes AKG base powder and mineral chelates such as calcium AKG (CAS 71686-01-6) and magnesium AKG (CAS 42083-41-0). In cellular biochemistry, alpha-ketoglutarate is the central carbon skeleton that connects the tricarboxylic acid (Krebs) cycle with amino acid metabolism, making it one of the most intensively studied metabolic intermediates in the healthy-aging and energy-support categories.

Purecium supplies food-grade Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) bulk powder produced by microbial fermentation of non-GMO corn rather than by chemical synthesis. The standard specification is 98% minimum assay by HPLC, and the ingredient is available as pure AKG base as well as calcium and magnesium AKG salts, giving formulation teams flexible options for longevity, sports-recovery, and general metabolic-support finished products.

Source & Ingredient Identity

In the dietary supplement raw-material market, alpha-ketoglutarate ingredients are classified by their salt form because the base keto acid is only one member of the family. Pure AKG base is the free 2-oxopentanedioic acid; calcium AKG binds two equivalents of the acid to a calcium ion for higher elemental calcium delivery; and magnesium AKG pairs the keto acid with magnesium, an electrolyte involved in muscle, nerve, and energy metabolism. Buyers select between these forms based on finished-product mineral strategy, dosage weight, and target application, and Purecium maintains all three forms under one qualified vendor program.

The identity of Purecium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) is defined by its CAS registry number 328-50-7, molecular formula C5H6O5, and molecular weight 146.10 g/mol for the base acid, with distinct registry identities for the mineral salts used in finished formulas. The starting material is non-GMO corn processed through a controlled fermentation stream that yields the keto acid without the racemic by-products or harsh reagent residues associated with certain synthetic routes. Each salt form is qualified against its declared specification, and the finished powders are classified as food grade under the quality frameworks described by USP-NF and the European Pharmacopoeia for food additives and supplement ingredients.

Key Characteristics of Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)

Purecium AKG powder offers a combination of characteristics that matter to formulation scientists: a white to off-white crystalline powder with high water solubility, an assay of 98% minimum by HPLC, low residual solvent within USP limits, and controlled heavy-metal content (lead below 0.5 ppm, arsenic below 3 ppm, cadmium below 1 ppm, and mercury below 0.1 ppm). The material is processed to 80 mesh, which supports rapid dissolution in beverage premixes, capsule filling, and tableting blends without flavor interference.

Functionally, alpha-ketoglutarate is the branch point metabolite at which glutamine, glutamate, and ammonia pools are interconverted with the Krebs cycle. Because it participates in ATP-generating oxidative metabolism and serves as a carbon scaffold for amino acid synthesis, AKG appears in published research on mitochondrial energy support, post-exercise recovery, and biological aging, where calcium AKG has been studied as a longevity-relevant nutrient. Supplement formulators select AKG when they need a clean-label, fermentation-derived metabolic intermediate with reproducible assay values and documented mineral content per salt form.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) Manufacturing

Purecium manufactures Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) through a fermentation route that begins with non-GMO corn starch. In the process, food-grade microbial fermentation converts plant-derived glucose into the keto acid backbone, which is then purified, concentrated, and crystallized to remove process impurities, residual proteins, and unwanted organic acids. Salt forms are produced by controlled neutralization of the purified acid with food-grade calcium or magnesium sources, followed by recrystallization and drying to target moisture specifications.

After synthesis and purification, the crystalline product is milled to the declared 80-mesh particle size, blended for batch homogeneity, and packed under low-humidity conditions to protect against moisture pickup during storage and transit. Stability programs cover a standard 24-month shelf life, and accelerated stability data are available to support customer registration dossiers in regulated markets. Because the fermentation process avoids the strong-acid hydrolysis and solvent-intensive steps used in some legacy routes, it delivers a cleaner impurity profile and a more consistent carbon-isotope signature for brand owners who need reliable, reproducible raw material.

Applications of Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) is used by supplement brands and contract manufacturers in four primary application clusters. First, healthy-aging and longevity formulas, where calcium AKG appears in research contexts associated with cellular energy sensing and age-related metabolic decline. Second, sports-nutrition and recovery products, where AKG supports the glutamine/glutamate pool and is often positioned alongside branched-chain amino acids for training support. Third, energy and vitality supplements that emphasize mitochondrial and Krebs-cycle function. Fourth, bone and mineral-support formulas that pair calcium or magnesium AKG with vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 for combined mineral and metabolic positioning.

Regulatory and scientific reference points for AKG are drawn from institutional sources rather than commercial claims: the Krebs-cycle function of alpha-ketoglutarate is standard content in biochemistry reference frameworks recognized by the scientific community, and peer-reviewed research has examined AKG in the context of aging, muscle metabolism, and cellular energetics. Purecium supports customers with formulation guidance, stability data, and application testing for tablets, hard and soft capsules, sachets, and beverage premixes. Typical finished-dose ranges of 500-1500 mg per day of AKG materials appear across commercial formulas, though final levels are determined by each brand's own regulatory review and label compliance.

Manufacturing & Quality Control

Every commercial batch of Purecium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) is produced under ISO 9001 and FSSC22000 certified quality management systems in cGMP-compliant facilities with HACCP controls. Finished-product testing covers HPLC assay (98.0% minimum), loss on drying, heavy metals within USP limits, pesticide residue screening to USP/EP standards, residual solvent testing (residual ethanol below 5,000 ppm per USP), and full microbiological analysis. Each shipment is released with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) documenting all measured parameters, and analytical methods follow the current USP-NF and European Pharmacopoeia monographs where applicable, with AOAC-referenced procedures for supporting analyses.

Documentation accompanying every order includes the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), allergen statement, non-GMO verification, and BSE/TSE-free certification. End-to-end batch traceability allows customers and their QA/QC teams to audit raw-material sourcing, fermentation parameters, salt-formation steps, and final packaging. Kosher and Halal certifications support distribution into religious-market segments, and stability documentation, method validation summaries, and regulatory support files are supplied on request to streamline finished-product registration with national authorities.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) for B2B Supplement Manufacturing

Purecium serves dietary supplement distributors, contract manufacturers (OEM/ODM), and terminal brand owners with bulk Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) base, calcium AKG, and magnesium AKG at a standard MOQ of 25 kg. Logistics options include air freight, ocean container loads (FCL/LCL), and expedited courier dispatch, with warehousing support in the United States for rapid restocking of North American production lines and direct export from China for EU, UK, and global customers.

Commercial partners receive tiered volume pricing, pilot-scale samples for R&D evaluation, salt-form selection guidance, and proactive market intelligence on raw-material trends. Purecium maintains over 15 years of nutraceutical export experience and a dedicated B2B account-management team that coordinates COA documentation, customs paperwork, and regulatory dossiers to keep launch timelines on schedule. Reviewed by the Chief Quality Assurance / Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Purecium for technical accuracy and regulatory alignment.