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Melonex AAKG: Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate in Plain Words
AAKG is arginine joined to alpha-ketoglutarate, a compound the body makes. It sits second on the Melonex label, so it is capped at 250 mg per capsule. The best-known human trials used 4 grams per dose in athletes, and one review says human clinical evidence for alpha-ketoglutarate is lacking.
Written by the Melonex label deskUpdated · 4 min read
What is AAKG?
It is a salt: the amino acid arginine bonded to alpha-ketoglutarate, a molecule the body uses in energy chemistry.
The label writes it as "L-Arginine (Alpha-Ketoglutarate dihydrate)". The dihydrate part just means water molecules are bound in the crystal. It does not change the idea.
How much AAKG could one capsule hold?
At most 250 mg, since the second of three blend names cannot exceed half of 500 mg 1.
| Name on the label | Place | Amount printed | What the label order allows (per capsule) | Amount used in research | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L- Citrulline dl - Malate | 1 of 9 | Not printed | 167 mg or more, under 500 mg | 3 to 8 g (3,000 to 8,000 mg) a day of citrulline for 1 to 16 weeks 2 3 4 5 6 | Small average systolic drops in pooled trials, no effect in one analysis; small, low-certainty exercise benefit |
| L-Arginine (Alpha-Ketoglutarate dihydrate) | 2 of 9 | Not printed | under 250 mg | 4 g per dose, 12 g a day, in one sports trial of 35 men 7 8 9 10 11 12 | Little human evidence; one review says clinical evidence is lacking |
| L - Arginine HCL | 3 of 9 | Not printed | under 167 mg | Pooled trials of L-arginine alone mostly used grams a day; no further change above 9 g a day 10 11 12 13 14 | Small average drops in pooled trials of arginine alone; Mayo says it might help, MSK calls the evidence mixed and limited |
The table shows all three names. The AAKG row is the one to read: a ceiling of 250 mg beside a study dose of 4 g.
What do the AAKG trials show?
Mostly sports outcomes in men, at gram doses, and nothing that confirms a blood flow effect.
- 8 weeks, 35 men
At 12 g a day, bench press and peak power rose; body composition and aerobic capacity did not 7.
- 7 days, 24 men
At 12 g a day, blood arginine rose, but nitric oxide markers, blood flow and blood pressure did not differ from placebo 8.
- 2026 review
Notes a lack of human clinical evidence for dosing and long-term safety of alpha-ketoglutarate 9.
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See packsIs there a gap between the studies and the label?
Yes, about a factor of 16 or more.
Twelve grams is 12,000 mg. The label ceiling is 250 mg. No trial used a blend of three amino acid forms at 500 mg. Read the AAKG page for the full profile.
What should you do with this?
Treat AAKG as an unproven extra. The Supplement Facts page shows where it sits. Ask your pharmacist about arginine cautions before any purchase.
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FAQ01
Melonex questions people ask
What does AAKG stand for?
Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate: the amino acid arginine joined to alpha-ketoglutarate.
Is AAKG the same as L-arginine?
It contains arginine but is a different salt form, and it is sold mainly for exercise.
Did AAKG trials test blood pressure?
One 7-day trial checked blood pressure and found no difference from placebo at 12 g a day.
Is AAKG safe long term?
A 2026 review says long-term safety is still to be determined. Ask your clinician.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized Melonex Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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