3g AAKG per serving
Applied Nutrition AAKG Powder is a single-ingredient arginine alpha-ketoglutarate powder delivering 3000mg of AAKG per 3g serving. The 300g tub provides 100 servings at an unflavoured formulation designed to mix into pre-workout stacks, protein shakes or water without altering taste.
AAKG (arginine alpha-ketoglutarate) is L-arginine bound to alpha-ketoglutarate, a Krebs cycle intermediate. The alpha-ketoglutarate salt improves arginine bioavailability relative to free-form arginine by stabilising the molecule in the gastrointestinal tract. Arginine is the direct substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme that produces nitric oxide — the primary mediator of endothelial vasodilation. Elevated blood flow during exercise increases nutrient and oxygen delivery to working muscle and drives the pump response in resistance training.
AAKG is most effective when combined with citrulline, which raises plasma arginine levels more efficiently than oral arginine alone by bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism. Stacking 3g AAKG with a citrulline-containing pre-workout amplifies NO production through two complementary mechanisms: direct NOS substrate provision from AAKG, and sustained plasma arginine elevation from the citrulline-to-arginine conversion in the kidneys. Applied Nutrition uses this dual-pathway approach in its Pump 3G pre-workout formula at 3g AAKG plus 5g citrulline malate.
AAKG Powder suits intermediate to advanced trainers who want to customise their pump stack dose-by-dose, or who already use a stimulant pre-workout and want to add an NO complex without doubling up on caffeine. The unflavoured format makes it fully stackable.
For a complete pump-focused pre-workout that includes L-citrulline malate alongside betaine and taurine, XL Nutrition Purge Pump 300g delivers 4g L-citrulline malate, 2.5g betaine, 1g taurine and 1g beetroot powder per 10g scoop (stim-free) at £11.99 for 30 servings (just £0.40 per scoop).
