Alpha Ketoglutarate?

[faridaro]

Just came across the following piece of information and was wondering if anybody here tried Alpha ketoglutarate?

"Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is also a major participant in mitochondrial function and neurodegenerative disease. There are reduced levels of alphaketoglutarate dehydrogenase in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. Alpha-ketoglutarate is an important substrate for the TCA/Krebs cycle which drives cellular energy processes. A lack of AKG stops the Krebs cycle and the affected cell dies. This applies to neuronal cells such as dopaminergic cells as well. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a neurotoxin associated with drug abuse and causes permanent symptoms of Parkinson's disease(PD) by destroying dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. Treatment with Alpha-ketoglutarate were found to resolve the loss of motor coordination, oxidative stress, diminished complex I activity and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in midbrain."

simplesanutrition.com/blog/...

[Rhyothemis]

I'm curious about it also. It is a component of the Deanna Protocol for ALS. Among its multiple functions, it removes ammonia (good) but in doing so glutamine is generated - which can be excitotoxic and can fuel tumor growth (bad). Alpha ketoglutarate is being studied as a pro-longevity substance, so presumably the overall effects are good - at least in healthy worms and mice.

Anyone have any more information?

journals.plos.org/plosone/a...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/248...

[faridaro in reply to Rhyothemis]

For some reason AKG subject didn't generate any interest - may be there is not enough studies/evidence for its supplementation in PD.

[Rhyothemis in reply to faridaro]

I hope there are at least some animal studies on it sometime soon.

[faridaro in reply to Rhyothemis]

Agree! If you see anything on the subject let me know.

[Rhyothemis in reply to faridaro]

What do you think about 'citizen science' projects? There is a variety of African killifish that apparently is a natural model of PD (no genetic engineering required) and for some time I have thought about trying to get some and expose them to various things (humanely as possible) to see if I can get them to live longer. But I don't know how to get them and am a bit dismayed by the idea of trying to email a research lab and ask them for eggs (the eggs can be shipped). I mean, how weird does that sound? Really weird? Just a bit eccentric? Terribly imposing? No big deal?

[faridaro in reply to Rhyothemis]

I've never heard of the citizen science project (had to look it up online) but it could be interesting to try if you have time and skills to explore this idea which is kind of weird, but I applaud your creativity and thinking outside the box. You never know - you might be on to some great discovery. If you know how to conduct a study and can present your plan in an appropriate manner to some research lab that carries those fish species, why are not?

[Rhyothemis]

new mouse study out with impressive results on lifespan extension with AKG. Especially interesiting that female mice received benefit - typically they don't respond much if at all to 'geroprotectors':

sciencemag.org/news/2020/09...

I'm still wondering about whether AKG has the potential to promote cancer growth, though. I have not watched all of this yet video yet, but the slide at 4:06 gives me pause:

youtu.be/nLYsBFqXC_I?t=246(Not working as expected?)

( but perhaps if I watch the whole thing, my question will be answered )

[faridaro in reply to Rhyothemis]

Interesting article and hopefully there will be some human data as it says: "Kennedy, now also at the National University of Singapore, plans to test AKG in human volunteers soon." Although potential long term side effects may not be detected right away, but it's good at least to have some data to make informed decision.