Healthy ageing: the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with alpha-ketoglutarate on arterial elasticity in elderly mice

Adrian Paul Harrison, Dagmar Adeline Brüggemann, Else Marie Bartels, Kathrine Andrea, Stefan Pierzynowski

    Abstract

    The study employed mechanical stretching in vitro of sections of abdominal aorta of elderly mice to investigate any benefits of oral treatment with alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on arterial elasticity. Eighteen female mice (50-weeks-old) were assigned to a control (2% w/v) Na2-AKG or (2% w/v) a Ca-AKG group, and treated for 182 days before being humanely killed. Aorta sections were exposed to increases in force (0.09 N) giving approx. 6 kPa of pressure, after which elastic recoil (N ms-1 wet wt.) was measured. Na2-AKG treatment for 182 days induced a 30% (P <0.01) improvement, while Ca-AKG induced a 93% (P <0.001) improvement in the elastic recoil compared to controls (3.30 ± 0.08 x 10-5 N ms-1 mg-1 wet wt.). AKG administered orally improved arterial elasticity in elderly mice, a change that occurred despite an increase in total collagen content. Alpha-ketoglutarate warrants further investigation as a candidate for therapies targeting arterial stiffening with age.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalThe Journal of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research
    Volume3
    Issue number1
    Pages (from-to)001-010
    Number of pages10
    ISSN1898-2395
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Healthy ageing: the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with alpha-ketoglutarate on arterial elasticity in elderly mice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this