Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate for Frailty

Verdict: Insufficient Evidence

Across 3 PubMed studies, the evidence for Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate in Frailty grades Tier U — unverified / insufficient. Research is still too limited to draw a firm conclusion.

U ⚫ U Unverified Insufficient Evidence

🔬Why this grade7-layer evidence engine

⚖️

Scoring transparency

All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable
Raw score 0.45
D
C
B
A
S
← counter-evidence / ineffectiveeffective / strong evidence →
Final grade
U · Insufficient Evidence
Confidence
57%
Conflicting evidence
Evidence level
E10
Mechanism / case reports / no human evidence

How strongly each layer supports this effect

lower = less supportive
L11 AI re-checkIndependent read
0.20
L2 PubMedPrimary literature
0.40
L1 ExamineGlobal benchmark
0.50
L3 MechanismPlausibility
0.50
L5 Clinical bodiesAuthoritative stance
0.55
Against Mixed Supports
View the full decision path (audit trail)
  1. compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.453
  2. tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
  3. apply_hec_rules — 僅有 E10 級證據 (cohort/animal/mechanism),不足以下結論
  4. tier_strict_requirement_check — C 級條件未達 (需 E1-E8;實際 E10 僅機轉)
  5. detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
  6. decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status

📄PubMed studies (3)L2 · primary research & systematic reviews

Alpha-Ketoglutarate, an Endogenous Metabolite, Extends Lifespan and Compresses Morbidity in Aging Mice
PMID: 32877690 2020 Animal study (mouse healthspan/frailty)
Finding: Ca-AKG reduced frailty (lower frailty index) and compressed morbidity in aging mice of both sexes, alongside extended female lifespan (+16.6% median). Proposed mechanism: dietary AKG induces IL-10, suppressing chronic inflammation ('inflammaging'). This is the central preclinical frailty/healthspan signal for Ca-AKG. ANIMAL evidence only.
Mixed funding Effect size: Reduced murine frailty index; compression of morbidity (both sexes)
View on PubMed
α-Ketoglutarate Ameliorates Sarcopenia in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mice by Modulating Protein Homeostasis and Optimizing Mitochondrial Function
PMID: 41228408 2025 Animal study (mouse sarcopenia model)
Finding: AKG significantly improved muscle mass, exercise endurance, grip strength, and cold tolerance in D-gal-induced aging mice; enhanced myofiber protein composition/size; activated SIRT1/PGC-1α/Nrf2, boosting antioxidant (SOD) activity and mitochondrial function. Directly relevant to sarcopenia/frailty mechanisms. ANIMAL evidence only.
Academic Effect size: Improved muscle mass / grip strength / endurance (preclinical)
View on PubMed
α-Ketoglutarate prevents skeletal muscle protein degradation and muscle atrophy through PHD3/ADRB2 pathway
PMID: 28939592 2018 Animal / cell mechanistic study (muscle atrophy)
Finding: AKG attenuated corticosterone-induced protein degradation and rescued muscle atrophy/dysfunction via a PHD3/ADRB2-mediated mechanism (AKG inhibits PHD3, stabilizing β2-adrenergic receptor ADRB2). Mechanistic basis for AKG preserving muscle mass relevant to sarcopenia/frailty. ANIMAL/CELL evidence only.
Academic Effect size: Rescued muscle atrophy (preclinical mechanism)
View on PubMed

🏛️Regulatory & authoritative positionsL4/L5 · FDA / EMA / NIH ODS / Cochrane / Mayo …

L4a US FDA
Cautious
calcium alpha-ketoglutarate is legal in the U.S. as a supplement ingredient under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), provided manufacturers follow GMP standards and avoid unverified therapeutic claims source↗
L4b EU EFSA
Neutral
EFSA has not granted specific authorization for novel food use of calcium alpha-ketoglutarate source↗
L4d TW TFDA / 衛福部
Cautious
可供食品使用原料彙整一覽表 source↗
PMID 100% verifiedevery citation checked via NCBI Entrez
🔬3 PubMed studiesindependently re-checked by multiple sub-agents
engine_version: v1.0 claim_id: CLM-COND-frailty-INT-calcium-alpha-ketoglutarate-001 繁體中文版 →