Creatine alpha-ketoglutarate

Amino-acidCreatine salt

What is it

Creatine alpha-ketoglutarate (CrAKG) is a salt combining creatine with alpha-ketoglutarate, a Krebs cycle intermediate. It is marketed as an alternative to creatine monohydrate, often with claims of improved absorption or energy production.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Strength and power performance

Strong Evidence

Creatine generally has strong evidence; CrAKG performs comparably to monohydrate based on small studies.

Superiority over monohydrate

Mixed Evidence

No reliable evidence that CrAKG outperforms creatine monohydrate.

How it works

CrAKG delivers creatine for muscle phosphocreatine loading and alpha-ketoglutarate as a substrate in the TCA cycle. The combined claim is enhanced ATP production. In practice, the AKG component delivers only a small amount per dose, and head-to-head data showing superiority over creatine monohydrate are lacking.

Dosage

Doses parallel creatine monohydrate (3-5 g creatine equivalent per day); CrAKG products typically dose 5 g of the salt per serving.

When and how to take it

Daily consistent intake supports muscle creatine saturation; acute timing is less important.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Creatine-AKG salt

Used in pre-workout blends.

Soluble; per-gram creatine content lower than monohydrate.

Safety

Well tolerated, similar to creatine monohydrate. Long-term data are most robust for monohydrate.

Who should be cautious

Significant kidney disease: discuss with a clinician. Pregnancy: avoid elective use.

Interactions

No significant pharmacological interactions reported.

Frequently asked questions

Is CrAKG worth the price premium?⌄

No clear evidence supports paying more than for creatine monohydrate, the most studied and cost-effective form.

Do I need to load?⌄

No. Take 3-5 g/day to reach saturation in 3-4 weeks.

References

Creatine alpha-ketoglutarate on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Creatine alpha-ketoglutarate on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Creatine alpha-ketoglutarate (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Creatine alpha-ketoglutarate with Pilora

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.