Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate (AAKG) is a compound often marketed in sports supplements with claims to improve muscle tone, performance, and recovery. There is some scientific rationale for its use: arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide, which can increase blood flow to muscles during exercise, and alpha-ketoglutarate participates in the Krebs cycle, potentially supporting energy metabolism. However, most of the evidence supporting AAKG for improving muscle tone (specifically addressing "lack of muscle tone" or hypotonia) is limited and inconsistent.

Several small studies have examined AAKG supplementation in athletes or healthy adults. Some findings suggest that AAKG may enhance blood flow or exercise performance, but improvements in actual muscle mass, strength, or muscle tone are not consistently observed. For instance, a 2012 study in Nutrition found no significant improvement in strength or body composition with AAKG supplementation in resistance-trained men. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally conclude that while AAKG is safe, its benefits for muscle growth or tone are unproven and may be negligible.

There is also a lack of evidence for AAKG’s use in treating medical conditions involving muscle tone, such as hypotonia. Most claims appear to be extrapolations from its proposed effects on blood flow and exercise performance rather than direct evidence. In summary, while there is some scientific interest and limited evidence, strong support for AAKG as a treatment for lack of muscle tone is lacking.

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