L-Arginine AKG is scientifically known as L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate. It is a salt of arginine, a non-essential amino acid that has been used by body builders to increase blood flow to the muscles and to boost workout endurance.
L-Arginine itself has received widespread attention for its use in helping patients in congestive heart failure, impotence (erectile dysfunction) and peripheral blood flow problems. Both L-Arginine and L-Arginine AKG supplement increase the body's output of Nitric oxide. This gas increases the diameter (the vasodilation) of the blood vessels in the body[i] which in turn increases blood flow and improves workouts and lowers recovery times after hard workouts.
The L-Arginine AKG supplement has lately been the subject of scientific research. The research is as yet inconclusive however; there have been some interesting results of AAKG benefits. In a scientific article[ii] entitled: "Acute l-arginine supplementation increases muscle blood volume but not strength performance," AAKG benefits were displayed to increase blood flow but did not strengthen the muscles themselves.
It may well be that supplements such as the AKG supplement may be much more impressive when part of an overall amino acid supplement to both increase blood flow and to help build muscle.
It is difficult to make broad sweeping statement in regard to AAKG benefits. However, generally speaking the research seems to indicate L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate benefits the increase of blood flow to the muscles, that in some Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate studies it improved muscular endurance and may have more potential when combined with other amino acids. An example of this was research done by Stevenson back in 2000[v] where AAKG supplement was combined with other amino acids and it helped with muscular recovery.
L-Arginine AKG is available in either powder form or capsules. L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate dosage capsules may be found in 1000 mg sizes and up to 3000 mg are consumed on a daily basis.
[v] Stevens BR, et al. (2000) High-intensity dynamic human muscle performance enhanced by a metabolic intervention. Med Sci Sports Exerc.