:Creatine-alpha ketoglutarate
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Creatine-alpha-ketoglutarate is a salt formed from alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) and creatine.
Creatine is a mass-produced fitness supplement that is supposed to increase the user's muscle mass, strength and power. Creatine requires a delivery system for cell uptake.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} An example is arginine alpha-ketoglutarate.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate itself is a chemical compound that is supposed to increase the blood flow to muscles and therefore, increase nutrient delivery to muscle cells.{{Cite journal|last1=Little|first1=Jonathan. P.|last2=Forbes|first2=Scott C.|last3=Candow|first3=Darren G.|last4=Cornish|first4=Stephen M.|last5=Chilibeck|first5=Philip D.|date=October 2008|title=Creatine, Arginine α-Ketoglutarate, Amino Acids, and Medium-Chain Triglycerides and Endurance and Performance|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.18.5.493|journal=International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism|volume=18|issue=5|pages=493–508|doi=10.1123/ijsnem.18.5.493|pmid=19033611|issn=1526-484X|url-access=subscription}}
Alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG or AKG) itself is a central molecule in the Krebs cycle that controls the organism's overall citric acid cycle rate. It can improve bone tissue development in the skeletal muscles by decreasing protein catabolism and increasing protein synthesis.{{Cite journal|last1=Wu|first1=Nan|last2=Yang|first2=Mingyao|last3=Gaur|first3=Uma|last4=Xu|first4=Huailiang|last5=Yao|first5=Yongfang|last6=Li|first6=Diyan|date=2016-01-01|title=Alpha-Ketoglutarate: Physiological Functions and Applications|journal=Biomolecules & Therapeutics|volume=24|issue=1|pages=1–8|doi=10.4062/biomolther.2015.078|pmid=26759695|issn=2005-4483|pmc=4703346}} The supplement industry has theorized that binding creatine to alpha-ketoglutarate could show significant improvements in creatine delivery and uptake which would ultimately lead to greater improvements in muscle mass and performance.{{Speculation inline|date=May 2023}} Still relatively new in the fitness industry, more research is needed to test the validity of its effects.