Two riders can both be 45 and age completely differently. One still sends big jumps and recovers overnight; the other is stiff for three days after a session. That difference is what scientists call biological age: how old your body actually behaves, measured by things like DNA methylation patterns (the "epigenetic clock"), inflammation and fitness.
The exciting part is that biological age isn't fixed. Lifestyle moves it, and a few molecules have shown real promise in moving it too. One of the most interesting is alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG).
1. What AKG Is
AKG is a natural molecule at the center of your energy metabolism (the Krebs cycle, which turns food into fuel inside your mitochondria). It does a lot more than that, though:
- Collagen support: AKG is a building block for proline, one of the main amino acids in collagen, and a required helper for the enzymes that stabilize collagen fibers. Your tendons, ligaments, skin and bones depend on that.
- Epigenetic maintenance: AKG is a cofactor for TET enzymes, which help maintain healthy DNA methylation patterns, the same patterns epigenetic clocks measure.
- It falls with age: Blood levels of AKG drop sharply as we get older, which is part of why researchers started testing it as a supplement.
2. The Studies That Got Everyone Excited
The Mouse Study (Cell Metabolism, 2020)
At the Buck Institute, Asadi Shahmirzadi and colleagues gave middle-aged mice calcium AKG (CaAKG). The mice lived about 12% longer, and even more impressive, they were much healthier while aging: frailty scores dropped by more than 40%, and they spent a much shorter part of their lives sick. They looked and moved younger.
In humans, the first data came from a 2021 study in the journal Aging. Forty-two people took a CaAKG-based formulation for an average of seven months and had their epigenetic age measured before and after. On average, their biological age came out about 8 years lower than at the start. It was an early study without a placebo group, and bigger controlled trials are underway, but it's a remarkable first result and the reason CaAKG is now in so many longevity routines, ours included.
3. Why It Matters for Kiters
- Connective tissue: Strong collagen means resilient tendons and ligaments, the tissues that take the biggest hit from landings and edging (more in The 100-Year Frame).
- Bones: In a study of postmenopausal women, AKG supplementation helped maintain bone mineral density. Strong bones matter in a sport where crashes happen.
- Healthspan: The real goal isn't just more years. It's more years riding, which is exactly what the mouse study showed: longer health, not only longer life.
4. My Own Experience
I can't measure my epigenetic clock every month, but I do track a lot with my watch and a blood pressure cuff. Since making the DoNotAge daily sachet (which contains 800 mg of Ca-AKG alongside NMN, the SIRT6 Activator and 12 other ingredients) part of my morning, I've seen my HRV go up, my blood pressure come down, my sleep and body battery scores improve, and my heart rate during hard efforts sit lower than before. I feel more energy and just better overall. Maybe some of that is the extra attention I give my health now, but the numbers moved, and they moved in the right direction.
5. The Protocol
CaAKG Daily
The human data so far comes from roughly 1 g per day of the calcium form. Take it every day; this is a long game.
Stack It With the Basics
Supplements work best on top of the things that already slow biological aging: regular hard exercise (kiting counts), 7 to 8 hours of sleep, and a daily eating window (see The Autophagy Shield).
Take Control of Your Biological Age (10% Off)
Ca-AKG is one of 15 longevity ingredients in the DoNotAge daily sachet, together with NMN, resveratrol, the SIRT6 Activator and more. One scoop a day, no pill organizer needed. Use discount code KITEHOMIEZ at checkout for 10% off your entire order.
Shop DoNotAge →Free: The Kiter's 10-Minute Flexibility Routine
The mobility and core routine we use before and after sessions, as a free PDF. Plus new videos and posts every few weeks.
This article is for general education and isn't medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting a supplement or a fasting routine, especially if you are pregnant, have a medical condition or take medication. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.