Calcium Pyruvate 1000mg - Now Foods

Some fitness enthusiasts are using pyruvate supplement in their training regimen. This natural combination of calcium and pyruvic acid produces a highly stable element called pyruvate salt.
 

Calcium Pyruvate Supplement Info:
Calcium Pyruvate 1.0 gram  per capsule

Calcium Pyruvate supplement daily value not established.

Click here to buy Calcium Pyruvate supplement, Diet Rx, for more details, or to subscribe to a FREE newsletter

Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter. Twice a month you will receive an email with reviews of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including calcium pyruvate supplement research, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Calcium Pyruvate and Athletic Performance
Several studies indicate pyruvate does not improve aerobic performance in well-trained athletes.

Calcium Pyruvate and Weight Loss
Does taking a calcium pyruvate supplement lead to weight loss? A few studies have been done with some positive results. In one study, the ingestion of 6 g of pyruvate for 6 weeks, in conjunction with mild physical activity, resulted in a decrease in body weight and fat mass. High doses of pyruvate, such as 20 to 40 gm a day, have been shown in some studies to lead to weight loss. See weight loss for natural ways to lose weight with options other than pyruvate.

Pyruvate supplement summary
Even if calcium pyruvate ingestion leads to weight loss, the required doses are too high, expensive, and impractical to consume or a regular basis. At this point I am not in a position to recommend the use of pyruvate either for weight loss or for athletic performance. It appears that pyruvate is not helpful for athletes. Based on my knowledge thus far, a calcium pyruvate supplement may be a waste of money. If additional research finds pyruvate helpful for weight loss or exercise performance, then I will change my position on pyruvate. However, pyruvate supplements may have antioxidant potential.

Other Weight Loss options to consider
Little research is available on the role of a calcium pyruvate supplement in weight loss, however, the following supplements may be more reliable in suppressing appetite.
5-HTP is a nutrient that helps curb appetite in some individuals. 5-HTP, by converting into serotonin, can be used temporarily to improve will power and decrease the urge to eat until more established weight loss habits are in place.
Acetyl l Carnitine is another option. Some users notice decreased appetite.
Hoodia is a cactus plant extract from the Kalahari desert in South Africa that has been getting a lot of attention lately.
Lipoic acid is mostly used by those with diabetes for blood sugar control
Green tea extract has some appetite suppressing properties.

Calcium Pyruvate Side Effects
Only minor calcium pyruvate side effects have been reported thus far such as gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating and nausea.

Pyruvate Research Update
Effects of calcium pyruvate supplementation during training on body composition, exercise capacity, and metabolic responses to exercise.
Nutrition. 2005 Mar;21(3):312-9. Koh-Banerjee PK, Ferreira MP, Greenwood M, Bowden RG, Cowan PN, Almada AL, Kreider RB. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Medical School, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
We evaluated the effects of calcium pyruvate supplementation during training on body composition and metabolic responses to exercise. Twenty-three untrained females were matched and assigned to ingest in a double blind and randomized manner either 5 g of calcium pyruvate or a placebo (PL) twice daily for 30 d while participating in a supervised exercise program. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between groups in energy intake or training volume. No significant differences were observed between groups in maximal exercise responses or metabolic responses to submaximal walking. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that calcium pyruvate supplementation during training does not significantly affect body composition or exercise performance and may negatively affect some blood lipid levels.

Exogenous pyruvate supplement prevents stress-evoked suppression of mitogen-stimulated proliferation.
Brain Behav Immun. 2004 Sep;18(5):425-33. Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Psychological stress influences disease onset and progression. To test the hypothesis that energetic shortages compromise immunity, we evaluated the effectiveness of pyruvate supplement, to prevent stress-evoked suppression of mitogen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 2h of restraint once daily for 14 days. Consistent with previous studies, mitogen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation was reduced after restraint; in contrast, mice that received pyruvate injections immediately following each episode of restraint did not reduce splenocyte proliferation. In addition, restraint-evoked corticosterone elevation did not habituate in animals treated with pyruvate supplement, suggesting that glucocorticoids are not exclusively immunosuppressive. The ratio of pyruvate to lactate, an index of aerobic metabolism, was elevated in mice exposed to restraint suggesting that mice exposed to restraint were preferentially using aerobic metabolism and producing more ATP per unit of pyruvate than non-restrained mice. Furthermore, two of the effective doses of pyruvate (0.5 and 500.0mg/kg) altered glucose levels suggesting a metabolic function of the supplement. These results support the hypothesis that stress-evoked immunosuppression may be a function of metabolic energy shortages and can be prevented via pyruvate supplementation.

Effects of oral creatine- pyruvate supplementation in cycling performance.
Int J Sports Med. 2003 Feb;24(2):144-50.
A double-blind study was performed to evaluate the effects of oral creatine- pyruvate administration on exercise performance in well-trained cyclists. Endurance and intermittent sprint performance were evaluated before (pretest) and after (posttest) one week of creatine- pyruvate intake or placebo. It is concluded that one week of creatine- pyruvate supplementation at a rate of 7 g x d -1 does not beneficially impact on either endurance capacity or intermittent sprint performance in cyclists.

Pyruvate-enhanced cardioprotection during surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2003 Dec;17(6):715-20.
To determine whether pyruvate -fortified cardioplegia solution provides cardioprotection superior to lactate-based cardioplegia solutions in patients undergoing elective coronary revascularization, with specific attention to post-surgical recovery of left ventricular performance as well as biochemical markers of ischemic injury. CONCLUSIONS: Pyruvate -fortified cardioplegia mitigated myocardial injury during coronary artery bypass surgery and facilitated postsurgical recovery of cardiac performance. Thus, pyruvate -enhanced cardioplegia may provide cardioprotection superior to lactate-based solutions during surgical cardiac arrest.

Pyruvate ingestion for 7 days does not improve aerobic performance in well-trained individuals.
J Appl Physiol. 2000 Aug;89(2):549-56.
The purposes of the present studies were to test the hypotheses that lower dosages of oral pyruvate ingestion would increase blood pyruvate concentration and that the ingestion of a commonly recommended dosage of pyruvate (7 g) for 7 days would enhance performance during intense aerobic exercise in well-trained individuals. Nine recreationally active subjects (8 women, 1 man) consumed 7, 15, and 25 g of pyruvate and were monitored for a 4-h period to determine whether blood metabolites were altered. Pyruvate consumption failed to significantly elevate blood pyruvate, and it had no effect on indexes of carbohydrate (blood glucose, lactate) or lipid metabolism (blood glycerol, plasma free fatty acids). As a follow-up, we administered 7 g/day of either placebo or pyruvate, for a 1-wk period to seven, well-trained male cyclists (maximal oxygen consumption, in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial. Subjects cycled at 74-80% of their maximal oxygen consumption until exhaustion. There was no difference in performance times between the two trials (placebo, 91 +/- 9 min; pyruvate, 88 +/- 8 min). Measured blood parameters (insulin, peptide C, glucose, lactate, glycerol, free fatty acids) were also unaffected. Our results indicate that oral pyruvate supplementation does not increase blood pyruvate content and does not enhance performance during intense exercise in well-trained cyclists.

Effects of in-season (5 weeks) creatine and pyruvate supplementation on anaerobic performance and body composition in American football players.
Int J Sport Nutr. 1999 Jun;9(2):146-65.
The purpose of this investigation was to study the efficacy of two dietary supplements on measures of body mass, body composition, and performance in 42 American football players. Group 1 (n = 9) received creatine monohydrate, Group 2 (n = 11) received calcium pyruvate, Group 3 (n = 11) received a combination of calcium pyruvate (60%) and creatine (40%), and Group PL received a placebo. Tests were performed before (T1) and after (T2) the 50 week supplementation period, during which the subjects continued their normal training schedules. Compared to Pyruvate and PL, CM and creatine - pyruvate showed significantly greater increases for body mass, lean body mass, 1 repetition maximum (RM) bench press, combined 1 RM squat and bench press, and static vertical jump power output. Peak rate of force development for SVJ was significantly greater for CM compared to Pyruvate and PL. Creatine and the combination supplement enhanced training adaptations associated with body mass/composition, maximum strength, and SVJ; however, pyruvate supplementation alone was ineffective.

The effects of pyruvate supplementation on body composition in overweight individuals.
Peak Wellness, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830, USA.
Nutrition. 1999 May;15(5):337-40.
A 6-wk, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was done to ascertain the effects of pyruvate supplementation (6 g/d) on body weight, body composition, and vigor and fatigue levels in healthy overweight Caucasian men and women. Twenty-six individuals were randomly assigned to a placebo group (seven men, seven women) and a pyruvate -supplemented group (three men, nine women). In addition, all subjects participated in a 3 d/wk exercise program, which consisted of a 45-60 min aerobic/anaerobic routine. After 6 wk of treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in body weight and percent body fat (23.0% pre versus 20.3% 6 wk post) in the pyruvate group. Furthermore, Profile of Mood States fatigue and vigor scores improved significantly for the pyruvate group (P<0.05) at 6 wk (vigor) and 4 and 6 wk (fatigue). There was no significant change in total lean body mass in the pyruvate group. The placebo group demonstrated a significant increase for POMS vigor at 2 and 4 wk with no changes occurring in any of the remaining parameters measured. Thus, the ingestion of 6 g of pyruvate for 6 wk, in conjunction with mild physical activity, resulted in a significant decrease in body weight and fat mass.

Pyruvate supplementation of a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet: effects on plasma lipid concentrations and body composition in hyperlipidemic patients.
Stanko RT, Reynolds HR, Hoyson R, Janosky JE, Wolf R.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Feb;59(2):423-7.
The effects of the three-carbon compound pyruvate on plasma lipid concentrations and body composition were evaluated in hyperlipidemic patients consuming a low-cholesterol (165-180 mg), low-fat (22-24% of energy; 18-20% of energy as saturated fatty acid) diet (0.091-0.099 MJ.kg body wt-1 x d-1). After consuming the above diet for 4 wk, during which time plasma lipid concentrations decreased, 34 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 22-44 g pyruvate (n = 17) or 18-35 g polyglucose (placebo, Polycose, n = 17), iso-energetically substituted for a portion of carbohydrate energy for 6 wk. Despite greater weight and fat losses with pyruvate, plasma concentrations of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride were not different between the two groups of subjects. We conclude that subsequent to diet-induced reduction in plasma lipid concentrations, pyruvate supplementation of a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet providing 6.7-7.6 MJ/d for 6 wk has no effect on plasma lipid concentrations but enhances body weight and fat losses. Pyruvate kinase.

Sodium Pyruvate Info
Anti-inflammatory activity of sodium pyruvate--a physiological antioxidant.
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2000 Jan;44(1):101-4. Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.
The anti-inflammatory activity of sodium pyruvate was evaluated in acute and chronic models of inflammation in rats. Oral administration of sodium pyruvate at three different dose levels of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight significantly inhibited the carrageenan induced acute paw edema in a dose dependent manner. The effect of 500 mg/kg sodium pyruvate was comparable to that of 12.5 mg/kg of standard diclofence. To conclude, sodium pyruvate exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in both the models of inflammation which could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Additional Links
pygeum herb
beta sitosterol supplement
female libido pills
sexual health enhancers
sex drive enhancers
astaxanthin antioxidant
serrapeptase
tribulus
osteoarthritis
coq10
dmae
saw palmetto

Pyruvate Enzymes
There are several enzymes that use pyruvate, including pyruvate kinase, pyruvate deaminase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate carboxylase. Pyruvate dehydrogenase is the first component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. During prolonged exercise, carbohydrate oxidation may result from decreased pyruvate production and increased fatty acid supply, and ultimately lead to reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Pyruvate also interacts with the amino acids alanine, glutamine and glutamate whereby the decline in pyruvate production could affect TCA cycle flux as well as gluconeogenesis.
     Certain metabolic deficiencies do occur, for instance there could be a pyruvate kinase deficiency or a pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is a rare disorder that causes developmental delay and failure to thrive starting in the neonatal or early infantile period.

Pyruvate Kinase deficiency
Pyruvate kinase deficiency is the second most common red blood cell enzyme disorder. Pyruvate kinase deficiency is an inherited deficiency of the enzyme pyruvate kinase, which is used by red blood cells. Without this enzyme, red blood cells break down too easily, resulting in low levels of red blood cells. the breakdown of red blood cells leads to hemolytic anemia.

Pyruvate Kinase deficiency and malaria
Pyruvate kinase deficiency protects against infection and replication of Plasmodium falciparum. The findings raise the "possibility that mutant pyruvate kinase alleles may confer a protective advantage against malaria in human populations in areas where the disease is endemic. New England Journal of Medicine 2008;358.

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD) is at common neurodegenerative disorders associated with abnormal mitochondrial metabolism. The citric acid cycle is a major biochemical process that derives energy from carbohydrates. Malfunction of this cycle deprives the body of energy. An abnormal lactate buildup results in many symptoms such as severe tiredness, poor feeding, shortness of breath, especially during times of illness, stress, or high carbohydrate intake.

Pyruvate Carboxylase Deficiency
Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is a rare genetic metabolic disorder. Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is classified as a lactic acidemia in which the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate is blocked, impairing glucose formation and resulting in an overabundance of lactic acid in the blood. Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency symptoms may include delayed development, muscle weakness, impaired ability to control voluntary movements, seizures, and vomiting.

Ethyl Pyruvate Research
Ethyl pyruvate enhances ATP levels, reduces oxidative stress and preserves cardiac function in a rat model of off-pump coronary bypass.
Heart Lung Circ. 2005 Mar;14(1):25-31. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Silverstein 4, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA
Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with transient periods of myocardial ischemia during revascularization resulting in myocardial contractile dysfunction and oxidative injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ethyl pyruvate as a myocardial protective agent in a rat model of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting associated with transient myocardial dysfunction without infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Ethyl pyruvate enhances myocardial ATP levels, reduces oxidative stress, and preserves myocardial function in a model of transient ischemia/reperfusion injury not subject to myocardial infarction.

Pyruvate and Lactate
There is a very rapid interconversion between lactate and pyruvate in blood.

Pyruvate emails
Q. I see pyruvate sold as calcium pyruvate or sodium pyruvate. Is there a difference?
   A. Practically speaking there should not be much of a difference between the two.

Q. Are there pyruvate side effects?
   A. Unless used in massive doses, calcium pyruvate supplement side effects are mino gastrointestinal symptoms.