Ornithine ketoglutarate (OKG)

Ornithine ketoglutarate (OKG) is a salt composed of two molecules of L-ornithine and one molecule of alpha-ketoglutarate. It is primarily utilized as a nutritional supplement and therapeutic agent in catabolic states, such as severe burns, trauma, and malnutrition, to promote protein synthesis and wound healing. OKG functions by serving as a metabolic precursor to critical amino acids like glutamine and arginine, which are often depleted during physiological stress. Additionally, it exerts anabolic effects by stimulating the release of hormones such as insulin and growth hormone, which help maintain muscle mass and improve nitrogen balance. While it is a bioactive molecule with significant clinical applications, it is classified as a metabolic substrate or drug rather than a traditional therapeutic target like a receptor or enzyme.

Other names

L-Ornithine 2-oxoglutarateOrnithine alpha-ketoglutarateCétornan

Ornithine ketoglutarate acts as a precursor for the synthesis of glutamine, arginine, and proline, which are essential for protein metabolism and tissue repair. It also stimulates the secretion of anabolic hormones such as insulin and growth hormone, thereby promoting a positive nitrogen balance and reducing muscle protein breakdown (proteolysis).