We answer the most common questions about Ca-AKG and share our top tips for taking it, PLUS the common things to avoid and mistakes that we see people make.
Why is Ca-AKG good for Longevity?
Ca-AKG is a relatively new supplement in the Longevity scene and came to the fore as a result of a 6 month study that showed a reduction in the epigenetic age of participants by an average of 8.5 years.
Your most common questions about Ca-AKG answered
How to take Ca-AKG
Ca-AKG is best taken with food or dissolved in water. With a daily dose of 500mg (0.5g) the amount of Ca-AKG is small and therefore not detectable when mixed in food and so does not impact taste or texture.
How much Ca-AKG to take daily
The epigenetic studies done so far showed a dose of 500mg is an effective dose in reducing epigenetic age. Ca-AKG is safe in larger doses and 1000mg (1g) per day is taken by many people but there have not yet been studies to establish increased benefits with an increased dose.
When to take Ca-AKG?
Ca-AKG can be taken at any time of day. Most people adopt a routine of taking their supplements in the morning as they start their day to ensure consistency and Ca-AKG can easily be added to this.
How long does Ca-AKG take to work?
The most common question we get is “how long does it take for Ca-AKG to work”. Like any supplement, Ca-AKG takes time to enter your system and get to work. The time it takes will depend on your preferred method of taking it.
In the studies of Ca-AKG so far, the positive effects on participants epigenetic age was recorded after 6 months. This was recorded at the end of the study and there were no mid-study tests to see when the positive effects began.
How much Ca-AKG to take?
Most people take 500mg per day. Many people take more than this, and it is perfectly safe to take 1 or 2 grams per day, however studies have not established increased benefits with increased doses.
Our Top Tips for taking Ca-AKG
Tip 1:
It seems too simple... but don't forget to take your Ca-AKG! The best way to ensure you remember to take your Ca-AKG is to add it to a routine/ritual that you already do. For example, if you have a cup of coffee as soon as you get up in the morning, then put your Ca-AKG on top of your coffee so you can’t miss it.... if you DO miss a day don't think your hard work is all undone. If it's just a day or two you can catch up by increasing your dosage slightly the following few days. Although, clearly don't miss a week and then take 8 days of doses in one day! Many of our customers take 2 or 3 grams per day so you’re not going to over do it by having a gram and a half for 3 days.
Tip 2:
Take your Ca-AKG with a meal. We believe that this is the optimum way to take Ca-AKG because your body will absorb it alongside the nutrients in the food. If you are taking Ca-AKG in capsule form then you can either swallow the capsules with some water whilst you are eating or break the capsules open and pour the Ca-AKG into water (to be drunk) or your meal.
Tip 3: Don’t take Magnesium with antibiotics. It may seem counterintuitive since Magnesium is an essential mineral, but you shouldn't take extra supplements if you're on certain antibiotics. Antibiotics that contain aminoglycosides affect the muscles and, since magnesium affects the muscles, it might cause problems. Also, some antibiotics can affect how much magnesium the body can absorb. Magnesium can also bond to antibiotics, reducing the benefits.
Top things to avoid when taking Ca-AKG
Things to avoid 1:
Don’t take full doses of Ca-AKG and AKG. They have similar properties and positive effects on the body, but no studies have been conducted when taking both and the Longevity science has focused on Ca-AKG to date.
Things to avoid 2: Avoid Ca-AKG capsules that have unnecessary fillers, binders, preservatives and additives to their supplements. They are added to bulk up products that are in most cases not needed and add no value to your health.
Things to avoid 3: Quality and purity is everything. Unfortunately not all companies agree with us. Whilst Amazon is the world's marketplace and you can find every supplement under the sun on it (including ours), don't take it as given that every supplement on Amazon is pure and tested for quality. Sadly, you will find the cheapest, best selling supplements on Amazon are very often unscrupulous Chinese sellers with very questionable quality. Put simply, they are the best sellers because they are the cheapest. To build (unfounded) credibility they pay 3rd parties for dozens of fake reviews, which gives audiences the perception that hundreds of other consumers are enjoying and benefiting from their product. Sure, there will be authentic reviews also, but for the low/no quality brands that we are talking about here, these are due to the placebo effect.
Of course, this is not always the case and many mainstream vitamins and supplements are purchased on Amazon hundreds of thousands of times a month and therefore some of the best sellers have the economies of scale to be able to offer great value and great quality. But it’s safe to say that for the less well known categories, like longevity supplements, this is not the case and therefore the cheapest products are not what they say.
At Longevity Box, every product we develop is more than 99% pure (as pure as it gets) and we test every batch. You can find our latest certificate for each product on Amazon and our website.
Follow these tips and avoid these things to ensure you are getting the most from your investment in your long term health. If you have any questions, please check out the product pages on our website for more FAQ’s on Ca-AKG or drop us a line at CustomerService@LongevityBox.co.uk.