Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) vs. L-Arginine Pyroglutamate
Among 1,304 on-market l-arginine products with an identifiable primary form, 38.6% use Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) (503 products) and 4% use L-Arginine Pyroglutamate (52).
| Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) | L-Arginine Pyroglutamate | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality tier | Unrated | Unrated |
| L-Arginine by weight | 70.5% | 57.4% |
| Share of market | 38.6% | 4% |
| On-market products | 503 | 52 |
| Median declared dose | 705 mg middle half: 705–1,322.98 | 574 mg middle half: 354.15–861 |
| Most common brands | Cellucor, Universal, BSN | Source Naturals, Anabolic Warfare, Higher Nature |
Doses are declared per serving in mg. “By weight” is the share of the ingredient that is the nutrient itself (e.g. elemental magnesium in a magnesium salt).
Why Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) is unrated
Tested in a controlled trial (4g three times daily x8 weeks improved 1RM bench press and Wingate peak power in 35 trained men) but only a time-release vs non-time-release comparison was run, not AAKG against other arginine forms.
Source: Campbell B et al. 2006, Nutrition 22(9):872-81, PMID 16928472
Why L-Arginine Pyroglutamate is unrated
No head-to-head human bioavailability or efficacy comparison of this form was located in PubMed searches.
Tiers summarize published comparative bioavailability or outcome evidence for each form (see methodology).
This page describes the market; it is not a recommendation to take either form. Talk to a clinician about what's right for you.
Other l-arginine comparisons
- L-Arginine Hydrochloride vs. Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG)
- L-Arginine Hydrochloride vs. Arginine Silicate Inositol Complex (Nitrosigine-type)
- L-Arginine Hydrochloride vs. Arginine Nitrate
- L-Arginine Hydrochloride vs. L-Arginine Pyroglutamate
- Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) vs. Arginine Silicate Inositol Complex (Nitrosigine-type)
- Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) vs. Arginine Nitrate
- Arginine Silicate Inositol Complex (Nitrosigine-type) vs. Arginine Nitrate
- Arginine Silicate Inositol Complex (Nitrosigine-type) vs. L-Arginine Pyroglutamate
- Arginine Nitrate vs. L-Arginine Pyroglutamate