Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate for Sports & Fitness
Why Do Athletes Use It?*
Some athletes say that ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate helps improve muscle growth.
What Do the Advocates Say?*
Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) is used by the body to make many substances related to cell growth and repair. It has been used in medical research to treat severe burns, improve healing after surgery, and other clinical situations. Unfortunately, no research has explored the effects of OKG in athletes.
How Much Is Usually Taken by Athletes?
OKG is formed from the amino acids ornithine and glutamine and is believed to facilitate muscle growth by enhancing the body’s release of anabolic hormones. While this effect has been found in studies on hospitalized patients and elderly people,1,2 no studies on muscle growth in athletes using OKG have been published.