Potential Side Effects and Health Benefits of Pyruvate
Supplements
Pyruvate, a chemical formed during the processing of carbohydrates and proteins, serves as
an energy source for cells. Interruption of pyruvate metabolism can limit a cell's ability to
produce energy and allow a buildup of lactic acid, a waste product. [1]
What are the health benefits of pyruvate?
Pyruvate, a metabolic product of glycolysis, a natural metabolic fuel and
antioxidant in myocardium and other tissues, exerts a variety of
cardioprotective actions when provided at supraphysiological concentrations.
[3-5] Pyruvate increases cardiac contractile performance and myocardial
energy state, bolsters endogenous antioxidant systems, and protects
myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion injury and oxidant stress. Researchers
suggested its clinical uses in various conditions including cardiopulmonary
bypass surgery, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, myocardial stunning, and
cardiac failure. [4]

How may pyruvate benefit cardiac performance?
Researchers consider pyruvate as an oxidizable fuel in myocardium, increases
cardiac mechanical performance and energy reserves.
The inotropic effects of pyruvate are most impressive in hearts that have been
reversibly injured (stunned) by ischemia/reperfusion stress. According to
Reference [5], metabolic inotropism by pyruvate increases cardiac energy
reserves and bolsters the endogenous glutathione antioxidant system.
Pyruvate enhancement of cardiac function may result from one or more of the
following mechanisms: increased cytosolic ATP phosphorylation potential and
Gibbs free energy of ATP hydrolysis, enhanced sarcoplasmic reticular calcium
ion uptake and release, decreased cytosolic inorganic phosphate
concentration, oxyradical scavenging via direct neutralization of peroxides
and/or enhancement of the intracellular glutathione/NADPH antioxidant system,
and/or closure of mitochondrial permeability transition pores. [5]

How may pyruvate benefit people in weight-loss program?
Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin noticed that infusion of
pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone directly into the blood produced strong
metabolic effects. When chronically fed to animals as part of their diet,
pyruvate plus dihydroxyacetone reduce the rate of weight gain and body fat
content during growth. These alterations in growth pattern appear to be the
result of an increased loss of calories as heat at the expense of storage of
lipid.  [2]

In addition to the above observations, Texas researchers further found that
pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone supplementation improved the insulin sensitivity of
insulin resistant rats and reduced plasma cholesterol levels induced by a high
cholesterol diet as well as lowered blood pressure and heart rate in obese
individuals. [2]

Pyruvate may be used as anti-toxic agent for neural protection.
Because zinc neurotoxicity is likely one of the key mechanisms of ischemic
brain injury, Korean researchers tested the beneficial effects of pyruvate on
rats with transient forebrain ischemia. They found that pyruvate almost
completely blocked zinc toxicity but did not attenuate calcium-overload
neuronal death. [8]

Adult rats subjected to 12 min forebrain ischemia exhibited widespread zinc
accumulation and neuronal death throughout hippocampus and cortex 72 hr
after reperfusion. However, rats injected intraperitoneally with sodium pyruvate
(500-1000 mg/kg) within 1 hr after 12 min forebrain ischemia showed almost no
neuronal death. [8]

Are there side effects of pyruvate?
A group from Italy applied pyruvic acid on acne; they found complete remission
in some patients and no side effects in the studies. They claimed that pyruvic
acid therapy is an effective, safe and well-tolerated procedure in the treatment
of patients affected by mild to moderate papulo-pustular acne. [6]

In another study, Bulgarian researchers applied pyruvate infusions in patients
with alcoholic liver disease. They observed that sodium pyruvate treatment
resulted in significantly decreased serum AST, ALT, AP, GGT, and total
bilirubin. In addition, they also noted the improvement of liver function from the
significantly decreased Combined Clinical and Laboratory Index.  This study
also demonstrated the good therapeutic effectiveness and good tolerance of
sodium pyruvate infusions in patients with alcohol liver disease. They explained
the benefits of rapid gain of ATP and GTP, required to redress defective cells,
and to antioxidant action of pyruvate. [7]

However, oral intake of high doses of pyruvate may lead to gastrointestinal
disturbance.
[1] Pyruvate Metabolism, merck online publication, July 17, 2006. [2] Ivy JL. Effect of pyruvate
and dihydroxyacetone on metabolism and aerobic endurance capacity. Med Sci Sports Exerc.
1998 Jun;30(6):837-43. [EMAIL JohnIvy@mail.utexas.edu] [3] Das UN. Is pyruvate an endogenous
anti-inflammatory molecule? Nutrition. 2006 Jun 27. [4] Mallet RT et al, Metabolic cardioprotection
by pyruvate: recent progress. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2005 Jul;230(7):435-43. [5] Mallet RT.
Pyruvate: metabolic protector of cardiac performance. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 2000
Feb;223(2):136-48. [6] Cotellessa C, et al, The use of pyruvic acid in the treatment of acne. J Eur
Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2004 May;18(3):275-8. [7] Petkova I, et al, Sodium pyruvate infusions in
patients with alcoholic liver disease. Preliminary report. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg.
2000;25(3-4):103-8. [8] Lee JY, Kim YH, Koh JY. Protection by pyruvate against transient forebrain
ischemia in rats. J Neurosci. 2001 Oct 15;21(20):RC171.
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