Pyruvate as a therapeutic supplement
Pyruvate is a natural compound found in the body that is increasingly used as a therapeutic supplement, primarily for weight loss and enhancing athletic performance. It is involved in energy production and can be obtained from various foods, with apples being one of the richest sources. Due to the limited amounts available in food, therapeutic dosages typically require supplementation. Research indicates that pyruvate may aid in weight loss and improve body composition, although the evidence is mixed and mostly derived from small studies. Additionally, pyruvate has been explored for its potential benefits in skin health, mitochondrial diseases, heart health, and possibly as a supportive treatment for cataracts and cancer. While generally deemed safe, some mild side effects, such as stomach upset, may occur. It is advised to use high-quality products, as impurities could lead to adverse effects, especially given the high dosages involved. Overall, further research with larger participant groups is necessary to fully understand the efficacy and safety of pyruvate as a therapeutic supplement.
Pyruvate as a therapeutic supplement
DEFINITION: Natural substance of the human body used as a supplement to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Weight loss, obesity
OTHER PROPOSED USE: Sports performance enhancement, skin conditions, mitochondrial diseases, heart health, cataracts, cancer
Overview
Pyruvate supplies the body with pyruvic acid, a natural compound that plays important roles in manufacturing and using energy. Based on claims that pyruvate can reduce body fat and enhance the body’s ability to use energy efficiently, pyruvate supplements have become popular with bodybuilders and other athletes. However, studies have shown mixed results.
Requirements and Sources
Pyruvate is not an essential nutrient, since the body makes all it needs. However, it can be found in food, with an average diet supplying anywhere from 100 milligrams (mg) to 2 grams (g) daily. Apples are the best source. A single apple contains about 450 mg of pyruvate. Beer and red wine contain about 75 mg per serving.
Therapeutic dosages are usually much higher than what can be obtained from food. A person would have to eat almost seventy apples a day to get the proper amount. To get the proper amount, a person would have to eat almost seventy apples a day. To use pyruvate for therapeutic purposes, one must take a supplement.
Although most pyruvate products on the market contain pyruvate only (or are almost all pyruvate), some also contain a related compound, dihydroxyacetone, which the body converts into pyruvate. The combination of the two products is known as DHAP.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical therapeutic dosage of pyruvate is 30 g daily, although studies have used 6 to 44 g dosages daily. Dihydroxyacetone dosages in studies of DHAP (pyruvate plus dihydroxyacetone) have ranged from twelve to 75 g daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Evidence from several small placebo-controlled studies suggests that pyruvate may enhance weight loss. Pyruvate is also marketed as a sports performance supplement, but the supporting evidence for this use is weak and contradictory at best. Pyruvic acid may help promote skin health when applied to the skin through its exfoliant effects. This may be effective for acne and overall skin appearance. Emerging evidence suggests pyruvate may benefit patients with rare genetic conditions called mitochondrial diseases. Supplementation with pyruvate reduced some of the symptoms related to these conditions. Animal studies have suggested that pyruvate could play an important role in heart health, but human studies are needed. Even weaker evidence suggests pyruvate as a treatment for cataracts and adjuvant cancer treatment.
Scientific Evidence
Several small studies enrolling a total of about 150 persons have found evidence that pyruvate or DHAP can aid weight loss and improve body composition (the proportion of fat to muscle tissue). For example, in a six-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, fifty-one persons were given either pyruvate (6 g daily), placebo, or no treatment. All participated in an exercise program. In the treated group, significant decreases in fat mass (2.1 kilograms (kg)) and percentage body fat (2.6 percent) were seen, along with a significant increase in muscle mass (1.5 kg). No significant changes were seen in the placebo and no- treatment groups.
Another placebo-controlled study (blinding not stated) used a much higher dose of pyruvate—22 to 42 g daily, depending on total calorie intake. In this trial, thirty-four slightly overweight persons were put on a mildly weight-reducing diet for four weeks. Subsequently, one-half were given a liquid dietary supplement containing pyruvate. Over the course of six weeks, individuals in the pyruvate group lost a small amount of weight (about 1.5 pounds each), while those in the placebo group did not lose weight. Most of the weight loss came from fat.
A third placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of combined dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate (DHAP) when individuals who had previously lost weight increased their calorie intake. Seventeen severely overweight women were put on a restricted diet as inpatients for three weeks, during which time they lost an average of approximately seventeen pounds. They were then given a high-calorie diet. Approximately one-half of the women also received 15 g of pyruvate and 75 g of dihydroxyacetone daily. The results showed that after three weeks of this weight-gaining diet, individuals receiving the supplements gained only about four pounds, compared with about six pounds in the placebo group. Close evaluation showed that pyruvate specifically blocked regain of fat weight.
While all these studies are intriguing, large studies (one hundred participants or more) are needed to establish the potential benefits of pyruvate for weight loss. Similar studies were conducted through the 2010s and early 2020s, but all failed to find substantial evidence to support the use of pyruvate.
Safety Issues
Both pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone appear to be quite safe, apart from mild side effects, such as occasional stomach upset and diarrhea. Very weak evidence—too weak to be of much concern—hints that pyruvate supplements might adversely affect cholesterol profile by negating the positive effects of exercise on HDL (good cholesterol). Maximum safe dosages for children, women who are pregnant or nursing, and persons with liver or kidney disease have not been established.
It should be noted that any contaminants present in a pyruvate product, even in very small percentages, could lead to harmful results because of the enormous dosages used. For this reason, individuals should always be certain to use only high-quality pyruvate products.
Bibliography
Fujii, Tatsuya, et al. "Efficacy of Pyruvate Therapy in Patients with Mitochondrial Disease: A Semi-quantitative Clinical Evaluation Study." Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, vol. 112, no. 2, 2014, pp. 133-138, doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2014.04.008. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
Koh-Banerjee, P. K., et al. "Effects of Calcium Pyruvate Supplementation During Training on Body Composition, Exercise Capacity, and Metabolic Responses to Exercise." Nutrition, vol. 21, 2005, pp. 312-319.
"Pyruvate for Weight Control." Peace Health, www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-3923006. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
"Pyruvate: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews." WebMD, www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-34/pyruvate. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
"Pyruvate - Uses." Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, 28 Apr. 2015, wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-2903001. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
Yako, H., et al. "Role of Pyruvate in Maintaining Cell Viability and Energy Production Under High-Glucose Conditions." Scientific Reports, vol 11, 2021, p. 18910, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98082-w.