Pyruvate as an Integrator

What is pyruvate

Pyruvate is an intermediate product of carbohydrate metabolism. Inside the cells this sugar with three carbon atoms is converted into AcetylCoa, which in the presence of oxygen enters the Krebs cycle (in the mitochondria).

In anaerobic conditions (O ₂ deficiency), pyruvate is transformed into lactic acid, a toxic metabolite which, if produced in excess of the disposal capacity, lowers sports performance.

Property and Effectiveness

According to some studies, pyruvate-based supplements would have positive effects on endurance performance, thanks to the ability to increase glucose transport to the muscle. This increased extraction of glucose from the blood represents an important energy resource for sustaining aerobic exercise, saving liver glycogen.

If the diet contains normal glucose concentrations, a supplement of pyruvate increases the levels of muscle glycogen before exercise.

A supplementation of pyruvate (20g of sodium pyruvate + 16mg of calcium pyruvate) associated with a low-calorie diet in obese subjects increases fat and weight loss without affecting muscle mass. Pyruvate is believed to stimulate small metabolic increases with a consequent increase in energy expenditure.

Pyruvate in food

Pyruvate is not an essential nutrient. However, it is found in traces in many foods and is present above all in apples.

Intake doses

From 4-6 to 20-30g per day, depending on the studies.

Side effects

Pyruvate is highly unstable and causes major problems in the intestine, so it is usually stabilized with Magnesium, Calcium (calcium pyruvate), Potassium or Sodium.

However, the daily intake of 30-100g of pyruvate causes gastrointestinal disorders in many subjects (abdominal cramps and diarrhea). Caution is advised until the studies are no longer complete (among other things, given the huge quantities of product required, a possible dietary supplementation would be quite expensive).