Tier 2 — strong

Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE)

Lim ZM, Chew YE, Guan L, Wang W, Mahadzir MDA, Dorajoo R, Kennedy BK, Sandalova E, Maier AB
Experimental Gerontology 2025 209:112867

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 40819772
DOI
10.1016/j.exger.2025.112867
Trial registry
View on ClinicalTrials.gov Registered trial — results not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Funding
Institutional and trial funding details are reported in the publication and associated ABLE protocol; this entry focuses on the peer-reviewed recruitment analysis.
Competing interests
Brian Kennedy served on the Scientific Advisory Board for Ponce De Leon Health. Andrea B. Maier disclosed scientific-board and healthy-longevity organizational roles; other authors reported no conflicts.

Study snapshot

DesignPeer-reviewed recruitment and feasibility analysis from a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized Ca-AKG trial.
Model120 generally healthy adults aged 40-60 years in Singapore with DNA methylation age exceeding chronological age.
Sample120 enrolled participants from 467 expressions of interest.
Intervention1 g/day sustained-release calcium alpha-ketoglutarate versus placebo for 6 months, followed by 3 months of follow-up.
Duration6-month intervention plus 3-month follow-up.
EndpointsRecruitment feasibility; Eligibility and consent rates; Trial enrollment characteristics; Biological-age enrichment at enrollment

What the study showed, in plain terms

This paper does not report whether Ca-AKG reduced biological age. It reports whether the ABLE randomized trial could successfully recruit its intended population.

The study confirms that 120 adults were enrolled into the double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 1 g/day sustained-release Ca-AKG for 6 months.

It is therefore a valuable status update for the human evidence base, but efficacy conclusions must wait for a separate outcomes publication.

Key findings

  • ABLE successfully enrolled 120 participants aged 40-60 years.
  • The trial intervention is 1 g/day sustained-release Ca-AKG versus placebo for 6 months.
  • This publication reports recruitment feasibility, not biological-age, safety, metabolic, bone, vascular or performance outcomes.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • No efficacy results are reported.
  • The cohort was deliberately enriched for people whose DNA methylation age exceeded chronological age, which limits generalization.
  • Brian Kennedy disclosed service on the Scientific Advisory Board of Ponce De Leon Health.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology