Summary
Pyruvate is a 3-carbon energy intermediate produced in cells from glucose, en route to creating ATP (the main energy currency of working cells). Pyruvate supplementation has been proposed to enhance work output and weight loss by providing more efficient energy that bypasses the ability of the body to store glucose as body fat.
Studies in humans with pyvuate supplementation show promise at high dosages when pyruvate replaces dietary carbohydrates.
Pyruvate has a lacklustre pharmacodynamic profile, and is not well absorbed. Some studies fail to note increases in blood pyruvate or muscle pyruvate in response to supplementation due to its inability to be absorbed and utilized well. Low doses of pyruvate (3-5g) tend to return null results rather than positive results in healthy persons.
Due to its poor absorption, high dose pyruvate is known to cause stomach distress and loose stools in dosages exceeding 15g.
Dosage information
Most studies on pyruvate substituted dietary carbohydrates for pyruvate as pyruvate itself does contain calories. The dose used in studies showing most fat loss is in the range of 20-50g daily, or replacing 10-20% of caloric intake (initially from carbohydrates) with supplemental pyruvate.
The lowest effective range noted in the aforementioned studies is replacing 6-12g of carbohydrates with pyruvate, but even then the results seen with pyruvate are variable and lacklustre enough to warrant caution in buying this supplement.
Examine Database: Pyruvate
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Examine Database References
- Weight - Kalman D, Colker CM, Wilets I, Roufs JB, Antonio JThe effects of pyruvate supplementation on body composition in overweight individualsNutrition.(1999 May)
- Weight - Stanko RT, Tietze DL, Arch JEBody composition, energy utilization, and nitrogen metabolism with a 4.25-MJ/d low-energy diet supplemented with pyruvateAm J Clin Nutr.(1992 Oct)
- Body Fat - Koh-Banerjee PK, Ferreira MP, Greenwood M, Bowden RG, Cowan PN, Almada AL, Kreider RBEffects of calcium pyruvate supplementation during training on body composition, exercise capacity, and metabolic responses to exerciseNutrition.(2005 Mar)
- Power Output - Stone MH, Sanborn K, Smith LL, O'Bryant HS, Hoke T, Utter AC, Johnson RL, Boros R, Hruby J, Pierce KC, Stone ME, Garner BEffects of in-season (5 weeks) creatine and pyruvate supplementation on anaerobic performance and body composition in American football playersInt J Sport Nutr.(1999 Jun)
- Weight - R T Stanko, D L Tietze, J E ArchBody composition, energy utilization, and nitrogen metabolism with a severely restricted diet supplemented with dihydroxyacetone and pyruvateAm J Clin Nutr.(1992 Apr)
- Weight - Stanko RT, Reynolds HR, Hoyson R, Janosky JE, Wolf RPyruvate supplementation of a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet: effects on plasma lipid concentrations and body composition in hyperlipidemic patientsAm J Clin Nutr.(1994 Feb)
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Stanko RT, Reynolds HR, Lonchar KD, Arch JEPlasma lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic patients consuming a high-fat diet supplemented with pyruvate for 6 wkAm J Clin Nutr.(1992 Nov)
- Weight - Ostojic SM, Ahmetovic ZThe effect of 4 weeks treatment with a 2-gram daily dose of pyruvate on body composition in healthy trained menInt J Vitam Nutr Res.(2009 May)
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics - Morrison MA, Spriet LL, Dyck DJPyruvate ingestion for 7 days does not improve aerobic performance in well-trained individualsJ Appl Physiol.(2000 Aug)