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Pyruvate

What are the possible uses and effects of Pyruvate?

  • Increased performance in the form of increased energy and endurance (natural doping)
  • Increased muscle building
  • Promotion of fat burning, easier slimming, easier dieting
  • Effect against free radicals (oxidative stress) as an antioxidant
  • Reduction of the cholesterol level
  • Strengthens the heart and circulation

Pyruvate is therefore used as a dietary supplement to support bodybuilding, slimming and dieting. Pyruvate*, or pyruvic acid, is found in small amounts (200mg to 2g) in the normal diet. Apples (approx. 450mg), fruit and vegetables, red wine (approx. 40mg/100ml), dark beer (approx. 30mg/100ml) and other foods contain pyruvates. It is also an important intermediate product in the metabolism of carbohydrates. Pyruvate is also used to transport the body's own fats to the mitochondria of muscle cells for energy production. Tests carried out by an independent institute on overweight people with a product containing Pyruvate showed that taking it in conjunction with a fat-reduced diet and training led to a significant shift in body composition. There was a 50% improvement in fat burning and a 20% increase in muscle building. Although it must be added that the product tested also contained chromium, zinc, vitamin B and other micronutrients, the effect was mainly due to pyruvate.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and zinc are essential for the optimal effect of Pyruvate. It is therefore recommended as an additional supplement when using Pyruvate. This study showed a considerable fat loss of 2.4 kg (12%) on average as well as an increase in fat-free lean mass with only five combined aerobic-anaerobic training sessions per week and a 2000 Kcal diet. The study was a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Both the group that received a placebo and the control group showed hardly any significant changes in body composition. The subjective perception of the Pyruvate group is also remarkable.

They experienced significantly less fatigue (71%) and significantly more energy during training (18%) and, in addition, a 2.2% increase in basal metabolic rate was observed. The results of the tests were achieved with a dosage of 6 Pyruvate daily over a period of 6 weeks. In another study, Pyruvate was shown to increase arm and leg muscles by 300%. However, it was pointed out that taking Pyruvate immediately before training is not recommended due to its glycogen-reducing effect. It has also been found that Pyruvate has a strong anti-oxidative effect and thus actively contributes to muscle and cell protection.

Dosage

It is generally recommended to take approx. 5-6 grams per day. Side effects in the form of diarrhea and nausea occur from approx. 30 grams per day. Such a high dosage does not bring any better effects. On the other hand, the simultaneous intake of zinc and vitamin B5 promotes the effect of pyruvates, as they are used together in the citric acid cycle. The effects can therefore be enhanced by additional supplements of vitamin B5 and zinc.

Safety and side effects

Pyruvate appears to be safe and harmless when taken orally for short periods of up to six weeks. If large amounts are used, side effects such as stomach upset, flatulence, bloating and diarrhea may occur. Pyruvic acid facial scrubs appear to be safe and harmless when applied by a physician. However, pyruvic acid can cause severe burns to the skin and should only be applied to small areas of skin at a time.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Not enough is known about the safety of pyruvate during pregnancy and breastfeeding. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid pyruvate to be on the safe side.

A heart disease called cardiomyopathy: One death has been linked to intravenous use of pyruvate in a child suffering from cardiomyopathy.

References

  1. Stanko RT, Adibi SA. Inhibition of lipid accumulation and enhancement of energy expenditure by the addition of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to a rat diet. Metabolism. 1986 Feb;35(2):182-6
  2. Stanko RT, Ferguson TL, Newman CW, Newman RK. Reduction of carcass fat in swine with dietary addition of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate. J Anim Sci. 1989 May;67(5):1272-8
  3. Ivy JL, Cortez MY, Chandler RM, Byrne HK, Miller RH. Effects of pyruvate on the metabolism and insulin resistance of obese Zucker rats. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Feb;59(2):331-7
  4. Langhans W, Egli G, Scharrer E. Regulation of food intake by hepatic oxidative metabolism. Brain Res Bull. 1985 Oct;15(4):425-8
  5. Cortez MY, Torgan CE, Brozinick JT Jr, Miller RH, Ivy JL. Effects of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone consumption on the growth and metabolic state of obese Zucker rats. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991 Apr;53(4):847-53 [abstract] [pubmed]
  6. Stanko RT, Tietze DL, Arch JE. Body composition, energy utilization, and nitrogen metabolism with a 4.25-MJ/d low-energy diet supplemented with pyruvate. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Oct;56(4):630-5
  7. Stanko RT, Tietze DL, Arch JE. Body composition, energy utilization, and nitrogen metabolism with a severely restricted diet supplemented with dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Apr;55(4):771-6.
  8. Stanko RT, Arch JE. Inhibition of regain in body weight and fat with addition of 3-carbon compounds to the diet with hyperenergetic refeeding after weight reduction. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1996 Oct;20(10):925-30
  9. Kalman D, Colker CM, Wilets I, Roufs JB, Antonio J. The effects of pyruvate supplementation on body composition in overweight individuals. Nutrition. 1999 May;15(5):337-40.
  10. McCarty MF, Gustin JC. Pyruvate and hydroxycitrate/carnitine may synergize to promote reverse electron transport in hepatocyte mitochondria, effectively 'uncoupling' the oxidation of fatty acids. Med Hypotheses. 1999 May;52(5):407-16
  11. Stanko RT, Robertson RJ, Spina RJ, Reilly JJ Jr, Greenawalt KD, Goss FL. Enhancement of arm exercise endurance capacity with dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate. J Appl Physiol. 1990 Jan;68(1):119-24.
  12. Stanko RT, Robertson RJ, Galbreath RW, Reilly JJ Jr, Greenawalt KD, Goss FL. Enhanced leg exercise endurance with a high-carbohydrate diet and dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate. J Appl Physiol. 1990 Nov;69(5):1651-6
  13. Ivy JL. Effect of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone on metabolism and aerobic endurance capacity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Jun;30(6):837-43
  14. Ochiai K, Zhang J, Gong G, Zhang Y, Liu J, Ye Y, Wu X, Liu H, Murakami Y, Bache RJ, Ugurbil K, From AH. Effects of augmented delivery of pyruvate on myocardial high-energy phosphate metabolism at high workstate. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2001 Oct;281(4):H1823-32
  15. Van Schuylenbergh R, Van Leemputte M, Hespel P. Effects of oral creatine-pyruvate supplementation in cycling performance. Int J Sports Med. 2003 Feb;24(2):144-50
  16. Morrison MA, Spriet LL, Dyck DJ. Pyruvate ingestion for 7 days does not improve aerobic performance in well-trained individuals. J Appl Physiol. 2000 Aug;89(2):549-56
  17. Mallet RT. Pyruvate: metabolic protector of cardiac performance. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 2000 Feb;223(2):136-48
  18. Cicalese L. Pyruvate in organ transplantation. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2001 Jul-Aug;25(4):216-8
  19. Kalman D, Colker CM, Roufs J, Maharam LG. Effects of Exogenous Pyruvate on Body Composition and Energy Levels. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise 1998;30;5:s156