Ornithine ketoglutarate
Useful mainly for hospitalized or malnourished patients recovering from burns, trauma, or surgery.
Quick decision guide
May help most
hospitalized or malnourished patients recovering from burns, trauma, or surgery
Common dosing range
5-10 g/day (clinical settings have used up to ~20-30 g/day enterally)
When to expect effects
Weeks
Watch out for
most evidence is in clinical nutrition settings, not healthy users or athletes
What is it
Ornithine ketoglutarate (OKG) is a salt formed from two molecules of the amino acid ornithine and one of alpha-ketoglutarate. It is used mainly in clinical nutrition to support recovery in catabolic states such as burns, surgery, and malnutrition. It is thought to act as a precursor for glutamine, arginine, and polyamines and to stimulate anabolic hormones.
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
Probably skip if…
Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
recovery in burns and trauma Limited Evidence | Modest improvements in wound healing and nitrogen balance | severely burned or post-trauma patients in clinical nutrition programs | Weeks |
recovery in burns and trauma
- Effect
- Modest improvements in wound healing and nitrogen balance
- Best fit
- severely burned or post-trauma patients in clinical nutrition programs
- Time
- Weeks
Evidence for 1 use
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
recovery in burns and trauma
Disease adjunctIn clinical-nutrition studies of burn patients, enteral OKG has been associated with improved wound healing, better nitrogen balance, and reduced muscle protein breakdown. Trials are relatively small and conducted in supervised hospital settings, limiting generalizability. The proposed mechanism is provision of glutamine and arginine precursors that support tissue repair.
Bottom line: OKG may aid wound healing and reduce catabolism in burn and trauma patients, based on limited clinical-nutrition trials.
How to take it
What to track
Safety
Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.
Common side effects
Who should avoid it
- people with significant kidney impairment unless supervised
- people with urea cycle disorders
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Insufficient data in pregnancy; not recommended without medical supervision.
Choosing a product
What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.
Look for…
Be skeptical of…
References by claim
Track Ornithine ketoglutarate with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: 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.