The body makes ketoglutaric acid as part of turning food into energy, and interest in it for hair comes from laboratory and animal work where it nudged resting follicles back into growing and increased follicle density. No human hair studies exist, so the benefit is unproven. Safety looks reassuring, with mild digestive upset the main issue. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 40–70 ng/mL | Low iron stores are a leading, reversible cause of hair shedding |
| TSH | 0.5–2.5 mIU/L | Thyroid imbalance is a common cause of diffuse thinning |
| Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) | 40–60 ng/mL | Low vitamin D is associated with hair-cycle disturbance |
| Serum calcium | 8.6–10.0 mg/dL | Tracks mineral load when using calcium alpha-ketoglutarate |
| eGFR | >90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Screens kidney capacity before adding a mineral-salt load |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; recheck any abnormal value at ~3 months; check calcium and kidney function at 6–12 months for calcium-salt users or those with kidney concerns