CaAKG

Interestingly, researchers observed a difference in outcome based on sex. Observing females, the authors saw a significant decrease in the expression of age-dependent phenotypes like fur colour, piloerection (involuntary bristling of hair), poor coat, dermatitis, gait disorder, and kyphosis (excessive curvature of the spine).

Researchers observed slightly different male outcomes, including decreased expression of “severity of body condition, dermatitis, gait disorder, eye discharge, kyphosis, and tumours”.

A few other highlights of this study include:

• Results were achieved by giving mice calcium alpha-ketoglutarate at middle age, suggesting that even middle-aged or elderly individuals may benefit from supplementing with AKG to combat the diseases and dysfunction associated with its natural decline.
• Researchers mapped the levels of 24 known inflammatory cytokines. Ca-AKG-treated mice exhibited low levels of these cytokines, while the control group did not. This indicates that Ca-AKG may prevent chronic inflammation by down-regulating the cytokines that cause it.
• In female mice, researchers also noticed increased anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. This was not observed in males and may explain the discrepancy above in age-dependent phenotype expression.

The importance of this study, and the excitement it evoked among longevity scientists, cannot be understated. However, clinical trials are needed to understand better how similar results may or may not be achieved in human subjects.