The present invention relates to the new use of alpha-ketoglutarate, amides, and salts and mixtures thereof for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical preparation or a food or feed supplement for the in vivo therapeutic improvement of blood vessel elasticity, in particular arterial elasticity in a subject in need thereof. Improving the blood vessel elasticity may be used in the for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiovascular disease, retinal vascular disease, heart failure, atherosclerosis, ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, arterial aneurysm, kidney failure, nephrosclerosis and diseases related to hypertension.
