L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate
L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate is a salt complex pairing the basic amino acid L-arginine with alpha-ketoglutaric acid, a Krebs cycle intermediate, sold as a white free-flowing powder with a slightly bitter taste.
The conventional 2:1 stoichiometry pairs two arginine cations with one ketoglutarate dianion, giving the molecular formula (C₆H₁₄N₄O₂)₂·C₅H₆O₅ and CAS number 16856-18-1. It is widely marketed under the abbreviation AAKG and sits at the centre of the nitric-oxide-precursor category of sports nutrition.
We source bulk L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Hebei. For this ingredient the minimum order is 200 kg and a 20-foot container takes 10 MT, and a smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Minimum order
- 200 kg
- Qty in 20' FCL
- 10 MT
- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
Grades / Types Available: Commercialized production
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |
| Assay | ≥ 99.0% |
| Ratio (Arg:AKG) | 2:1 |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 0.5% |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Purity/Assay | ≥ 98% (HPLC) |
| Moisture/Loss on Drying | ≤ 5% |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Lead | ≤ 2 ppm |
| Arsenic | ≤ 1 ppm |
| Total Plate Count | ≤ 1000 cfu/g |
| Yeast & Mold | ≤ 100 cfu/g |
Common Markets Grades
L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate is produced primarily as a 2:1 (di-arginine) salt and a less common 1:1 (mono-arginine) salt, both at 98 percent minimum assay on the dry basis.
The 2:1 grade is the standard format for pre-workout powders and stim-free pump products, where the dose typically lands between 3 and 6 grams per serving. The crystal habit is controlled for free flow and rapid water dispersion.
The 1:1 grade is produced mainly for tablet and capsule applications where compression density matters and the lower arginine fraction per dose is acceptable.
Both grades meet the dietary supplement specifications of the USP-NF compendium where applicable, and are produced under GMP for nutritional supplements. Pharmaceutical-grade material is produced on request for clinical research formulations.
Applications
- Pre-workout sports nutrition powders for nitric oxide and muscle pump support
- Stim-free pump-focused supplement blends paired with citrulline and beetroot
- Bodybuilding and strength sports recovery formulas
- Endurance sports nutrition for cycling, running, and triathlon
- Cardiovascular health supplements positioned around vascular function
- Men's wellness and erectile-function supplement blends
- Clinical research formulas for wound healing and post-surgical recovery
- Weight management and metabolic support supplements
- Functional beverage powders and ready-to-mix sports drinks
- Tablet and capsule multi-ingredient amino acid blends
- Veterinary nutrition for performance horses and racing greyhounds
- Specialty enteral nutrition formulas for catabolic patient populations
Brands Using L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate
Widely-distributed consumer products that list L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate on the ingredient label.
- NOW SportsAAKG Powder ↗Each 4.2 g serving supplies pure AAKG (L-Arginine-Alpha-Ketoglutarate) with only cellulose, vegetable stearic acid and silica as other ingredients.Label verified 2026-05-24
- NOW SportsAAKG 2200 Veg Capsules ↗Veg capsules supplying L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG).Label verified 2026-05-24
- PrimaforceAAKG Powder ↗Unflavored 250 g powder supplying 2,000 mg Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate per serving with no fillers, flavours or additives; lab-tested for potency.Label verified 2026-05-24
- BulkSupplementsAAKG Powder ↗An unflavoured arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (2:1) powder.Label verified 2026-05-24
- MyProtein100% AAKG Amino Acid Powder ↗100% Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate powder, unflavored, designed to be combined with pre-workout supplements for pump support.Label verified 2026-05-24
- CellucorNO3 Ultimate ↗Pump-amplifier formula includes 1 g Arginine AKG per scoop alongside L-Citrulline, Nitrosigine and NO3-T arginine nitrate.Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate
Top L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load L Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate together with other ingredients such as Glycine, L-Arginine and L-Leucine into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate is permitted as a dietary supplement ingredient in most major markets.
In the United States it is marketed under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), with both L-arginine and alpha-ketoglutaric acid carrying long histories of use as nutritional ingredients. The combination has been the subject of multiple New Dietary Ingredient notifications.
In the European Union the substance is sold as a food supplement under Directive 2002/46/EC. National authorities in member states have set their own maximum daily intake guidance for arginine-based supplements.
The substance is not approved as a food additive (E number) and is not intended for use as a flavouring or processing aid. Pharmacopoeial monographs for L-arginine and alpha-ketoglutaric acid separately appear in the USP and Ph. Eur., though no combined-salt monograph yet exists.
Halal and Kosher certifications are routinely available, since both precursors are derived from plant-based fermentation feedstocks.
Manufacturing Process
Manufacture proceeds in two stages: separate preparation of the two precursors, then salt formation and crystallisation.
L-arginine is produced by aerobic fermentation using engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum, with broth titers above 80 g/L on sugar feedstocks of glucose or molasses. The free amino acid is recovered by ion exchange and crystallised from aqueous ethanol.
Alpha-ketoglutaric acid is produced by fermentation using Yarrowia lipolytica grown on glycerol or n-paraffin, or by chemical synthesis from succinic acid via oxidation. Both routes deliver food-grade material at greater than 98 percent purity.
The two precursors are dissolved in deionized water in 2:1 or 1:1 molar ratio, the solution is filtered through activated carbon to remove colour and trace impurities, concentrated under vacuum, and crystallised. The salt is then dried, milled to specification, and packed under low-humidity conditions to prevent caking.
