Function

Although research on the health effects of alpha-ketoglutaric acid is very limited, some preliminary research suggests that alpha-ketoglutarate may offer certain health benefits. Here's a look at several key findings from the available studies:
1) Hemodialysis
Alpha-ketoglutarate may be of some benefit to people undergoing hemodialysis.
In a study published in the journal Nephron in 1996, researchers found that administering a combination of alpha-ketoglutarate and calcium carbonate to hemodialysis patients helped boost amino acid metabolism and decrease hyperphosphatemia (a condition marked by abnormally elevated levels of phosphate in the blood).
2) Cardiac Surgery
Alpha-ketoglutarate may help improve kidney function among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, according to a 1998 study from the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The study involved 22 people with normal kidney function prior to undergoing cardiac surgery.

Specification