Amino acid complex composed of Ornithine (an amino acid) and Ketoglutaric Acid
(a natural energy-producing compound) that shows incredible promise stimulating
muscle repair, energy and strength.
This compound is called Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, or OKG.
Most OKG, Creatine, Protein powders and other amino acid products do not contain
the proper dosage that has been shown to be effective, but instead contain a small,
ineffective amount.
Arginine and ornithine are precursors of nitric oxide and polyamines, metabolites
which participate in a number of metabolic functions. OKG supplements have been
shown to promote growth hormone and insulin secretion with anabolic effects.
Their intermediary metabolites (glutamine and proline) may also have beneficial
effects in promoting recovery from trauma. In animal studies, OKG
supplementation increases levels of arginine and glutamine in skeletal muscles
and stimulates immune system function compared to animals not receiving OKG.
The immunomodulatory properties found with OKG suggest that it may enhance
host-defense mechanisms, particularly during injury and acute stress.
OKG supplements (15 grams per day for 5 months) have been shown to improve
growth rates in small children. The OKG supplements resulted in elevated
concentrations of anabolic (growth) hormones and amino acid metabolites,
including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), glutamine and glutamate.
In another study of healthy men, OKG given at 10 grams per day resulted in a
20-30% elevation in insulin (another anabolic hormone), which were not observed
with supplementation of either ornithine or alpha-ketoglutarate alone.
A test tube study found that OKG induces a significant increase in growth of human
fibroblasts cells with similarities to muscle fiber cells. This effect was
dose-dependent, meaning that a more pronounced growth effect was noted with
increasing levels of OKG (but not with increasing levels of ornithine or
alpha-ketoglutarate alone).
In one study, the anti-catabolic effects of OKG were investigated in 14 multiple
trauma patients who were highly catabolic and hyper-metabolic. One group of
subjects received 20 grams of OKG per day and showed a significant increase in
protein turnover as well as a an increase in blood levels of insulin, growth
hormone, and free amino acids (glutamine, proline and ornithine) compared to
subjects not receiving OKG supplements.
