Alpha-Ketoglutarate: The Metabolic Key to Healing and Regeneration?

A remarkable new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center—a world-renowned research institution—has unveiled a powerful role for alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) in tissue regeneration. The findings, recently published in Nature, the highest-impact scientific journal in the world, suggest that this key metabolite could be a game changer for gut health, chronic inflammation, and even cancer prevention.

The research team, led by Drs. Almudena Chaves-Perez and Scott Millman in the lab of Dr. Scott Lowe, showed that AKG does more than fuel the body—it actually directs the fate of stem cells in the gut. Without enough AKG, stem cells fail to properly differentiate into the specialized cells that line and protect the intestines. This impaired process is common in inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis.

But when researchers supplemented mice with AKG, the results were profound.

“We gave the mice alpha-ketoglutarate, and it was amazing to see how much their tissue was able to heal itself,” said Dr. Chaves-Perez.

This breakthrough highlights the potential of AKG supplementation not only to support normal regeneration of the intestinal lining, but also to counteract damage caused by chronic inflammation—a major risk factor for diseases like colorectal cancer.

The implications go far beyond gut health. Dr. Lowe's lab has previously shown that AKG helps the tumor-suppressor gene p53 do its job more effectively in pancreatic cancer. Taken together, the evidence suggests that AKG may play a central role in supporting cellular repair, healthy aging, and disease resistance.

At LongJuvity, we’ve long believed in the power of targeted supplementation to promote healthspan. This new research further reinforces why alpha-ketoglutarate is a cornerstone ingredient in our longevity stack.

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References:
Chaves-Perez A, Millman S, Lowe S. Nature, 2025.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Press release, June 2025.