ORNITHINE KETOGLUTARATE (OKG): Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Ornithine ketoglutarate (OKG) is a salt made from the amino acid ornithine and alpha-ketoglutarate, which is a precursor to the amino acid glutamine.

Ornithine ketoglutarate might change the way amino acids, the building blocks of protein, are used in the body. It also increases insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood.

People use ornithine ketoglutarate for healing wounds and burns. It is also used for building muscle strength, HIV/AIDS, stroke, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse ornithine ketoglutarate with ornithine or another chemical called L-ornithine-L-aspartate (LOLA). These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

Burns. Taking ornithine ketoglutarate by mouth seems to improve wound healing in people with burns.
Wound healing. Taking ornithine ketoglutarate by mouth seems to improve healing time and reduce complications in people undergoing major surgery.

There is interest in using ornithine ketoglutarate for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Ornithine ketoglutarate is possibly safe. It's been used safely for up to 3 weeks.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Ornithine ketoglutarate is possibly safe. It's been used safely for up to 3 weeks.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ornithine ketoglutarate is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for ORNITHINE KETOGLUTARATE (OKG) overview.

Dosing

Ornithine ketoglutarate has most often been used by adults in doses of 10-30 grams by mouth daily for 3 weeks. It has also been given in feeding tubes while under medical supervision. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

REFERENCES:

Brocker, P., Vellas, B., Albarede, J. L., and Poynard, T. A two-centre, randomized, double-blind trial of ornithine oxoglutarate in 194 elderly, ambulatory, convalescent subjects. Age Ageing 1994;23(4):303-306. View abstract.

Cano N, Coudray-Lucas C Cynober L Lacombe P Labastie-Coeyrehourcq J Durbec JP di Costanzo-Dufetel J Fernandez JP. Ornithine alpha-ceto glutarate (OKG) in hemodialysed (HD) patients: metabolism and nutritional effects. Clin-Nutr. 1988;7:93.

Coudray-Lucas, C., Le, Bever H., Cynober, L., De Bandt, J. P., and Carsin, H. Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate improves wound healing in severe burn patients: a prospective randomized double-blind trial versus isonitrogenous controls. Crit Care Med. 2000;28(6):1772-1776. View abstract.

Cynober, L. [Role of new nitrogen substrates during peri-operative artificial nutrition in adults]. Ann.Fr.Anesth.Reanim. 1995;14 Suppl 2:102-106. View abstract.

Cynober, L. Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate as a potent precursor of arginine and nitric oxide: a new job for an old friend. J.Nutr. 2004;134(10 Suppl):2858S-2862S. View abstract.

Cynober, L., Saizy, R., Nguyen, Dinh F., Lioret, N., and Giboudeau, J. Effect of enterally administered ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate on plasma and urinary amino acid levels after burn injury. J.Trauma 1984;24(7):590-596. View abstract.

Cynober, L., Vaubourdolle, M., Dore, A., and Giboudeau, J. Kinetics and metabolic effects of orally administered ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in healthy subjects fed with a standardized regimen. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. 1984;39(4):514-519. View abstract.

Debout, J., Salvetti, B., and Krivosic-Horber, R. [A controlled trial of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in neuro-traumatology]. Cah.Anesthesiol. 1986;34(6):501-504. View abstract.

Demarcq, J. M., Delbar, M., Trochu, G., and Crignon, J. J. [Effects of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate on the nutritional state of intensive-care patients]. Cah.Anesthesiol. 1984;32(3):229-232. View abstract.

Donati L, Signorini M. Nutritional effects of ornithine alpha ketoglutarate in burn patients. EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled TrialsClinical Nutrition. 1992;11:25-26.

Donati, L., Signorini, M., and Grappolini, S. Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate administration in burn injury. Clin.Nutr. 1993;12(1):70-71. View abstract.

Donati, L., Ziegler, F., Pongelli, G., and Signorini, M. S. Nutritional and clinical efficacy of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in severe burn patients. Clin.Nutr. 1999;18(5):307-311. View abstract.

Griffith DNW, Dorf G James IM Woollard ML. The effects of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in stroke. Progress in Stroke Research. 1979;207-211.

Herlong, H. F., Maddrey, W. C., and Walser, M. The use of ornithine salts of branched-chain ketoacids in portal-systemic encephalopathy. Ann.Intern.Med. 1980;93(4):545-550. View abstract.

Herranz, Jordan B., Moreno, Romero F., Cardesa Garcia, J. J., Santos, Hurtado, I, Aparicio, Palomino A., and Requena, Guerrero F. [Controlled clinical assay in Clonidine, arginine aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate of Ornithine and Ciproheptadine as growth stimulants in children with short stature]. An.Esp.Pediatr. 1993;38(6):509-515. View abstract.

Jeevanandam, M. and Petersen, S. R. Substrate fuel kinetics in enterally fed trauma patients supplemented with ornithine alpha ketoglutarate. Clin.Nutr. 1999;18(4):209-217. View abstract.

Jeevanandam, M. Ornithine oxoglutarate improved nutrition in elderly patients. ACP J.Club. 1995;123(2):56. View abstract.

Karsegard, V. L., Raguso, C. A., Genton, L., Hirschel, B., and Pichard, C. L-ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in HIV infection: effects on muscle, gastrointestinal, and immune functions. Nutrition 2004;20(6):515-520. View abstract.

Le, Bricon T., Coudray-Lucas, C., Lioret, N., Lim, S. K., Plassart, F., Schlegel, L., De Bandt, J. P., Saizy, R., Giboudeau, J., and Cynober, L. Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate metabolism after enteral administration in burn patients: bolus compared with continuous infusion. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. 1997;65(2):512-518. View abstract.

Meaume, S., Kerihuel, J. C., Constans, T., Teot, L., Lerebours, E., Kern, J., and Bourdel, Marchasson, I. Efficacy and safety of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in heel pressure ulcers in elderly patients: results of a randomized controlled trial. J.Nutr.Health Aging 2009;13(7):623-630. View abstract.

Pradoura JP, Carcasonne Y and Spitalier JM. Double blind randomized trial of l-dextro ornithine alpha ketoglutarate enteral supplementation in operated patients with oropharynx cancer. Clin Nutr. 1986;5:132.

Sevin D, Spielmann M Le CT Rouesse J. Comparison of the anti-emetic effects of ornithine alpha ketoglutarate and metoclopramide in patients treated with cisplatin or adriamycin (randomized double blind study). SEM HOP. 1988;64(2):141-143.

Vaubourdolle, M., Salvucci, M., Coudray-Lucas, C., Agneray, J., Cynober, L., and Ekindjian, O. G. Action of ornithine alpha ketoglutarate on DNA synthesis by human fibroblasts. In Vitro Cell Dev.Biol. 1990;26(2):187-192. View abstract.

Zur Nieden HC, Pullen R Fusgen I. Treatment of decubital ulcers in geriatric patients with ornithine- oxoglutarate - A randomized, double-blind pilot study. European Journal of Geriatrics. 1999;1:144-147.

Blomqvist BI, Hammarqvist F, von der Decken A, Wernerman J. Glutamine and alpha-ketoglutarate prevent the decrease in muscle free glutamine concentration and influence protein synthesis after total hip replacement. Metabolism 1995;44:1215-22. View abstract.

Chainuvati T, Plengvanit U, Viranuvatti V. Ornicetil on encephalopathy. Effect of ornicetil (ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate) on encephalopathy in patients with acute and chronic liver disease. Acta Hepatogastroenterol (Stuttg) 1977;24:434-9. View abstract.

De Bandt JP, Coudray-Lucas C, Lioret N, et al. A randomized controlled trial of the influence of the mode of enteral ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate administration in burn patients. J Nutr 1998;128:563-9. View abstract.

Meakins TS, Persaud C, Jackson AA. Dietary supplementation with L-methionine impairs the utilization of urea-nitrogen and increases 5-L-oxoprolinuria in normal women consuming a low protein diet. J Nutr 1998;128:720-7. View abstract.

Moukarzel AA, Goulet O, Salas JS, et al. Growth retardation in children receiving long-term total parenteral nutrition: effects of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;60:408-13. View abstract.

Wernerman J, Hammarkvist F, Ali MR, Vinnars E. Glutamine and ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate but not branched-chain amino acids reduce the loss of muscle glutamine after surgical trauma. Metabolism 1989;38:63-6. View abstract.

Wernerman J, Hammarqvist F, von der Decken A, Vinnars E. Ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate improves skeletal muscle protein synthesis as assessed by ribosome analysis and nitrogen use after surgery. Ann Surg 1987;206:674-8. View abstract.

Woollard ML, Pearson RM, Dorf G, et al. Controlled trial of ornithine alpha ketoglutarate (OAKG) in patients with stroke. Stroke 1978;9:218-22. View abstract.

Bean N, Redden J Goode H Grimble G Allison SP. Double-blind pilot trial, in elderly women with fractured femur, of ornithine a-ketoglutarate v. a defined formula peptide oral supplement. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 1994;53:203A.

Bouchon, Y., Michon, J., Chanson, L., Merle, M., and Debry, G. [Effect of ornithine oxoglutarate on the duration and quality of wound healing in extensive reparative and plastic surgical methods]. Ann.Chir Plast.Esthet. 1989;34(5):447-449. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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ORNITHINE KETOGLUTARATE (OKG) - Uses, Side Effects, and More