Scientific Names: 2-oxopropanoate
Other Common Names: Oxypropanoic acid, acetylformic acid, alpha-keto acid, alpha-ketopropionic acid, procemic acid
Overall Safety: 😐
Therapeutic Efficacy and Considerations:
Weight Loss: 😐 Three small trials with many methodological limitations have evaluated use for weight loss. Overall, trials demonstrated weight loss of 4-6 pounds; this may or may not be clinically significant in all patients. More research is warranted, but the evidence cannot support a general recommendation for use. Pyruvate may possibly be an option for some patients, in conjunction with a diet and exercise program. Dose: optimum dose undetermined; trials have used 6-15 gm daily in one or divided doses.
Hyperlipidemia: 🙁 Two small studies with methodological limitations demonstrated conflicting results. One noted a 4-5% decrease in LDL cholesterol versus placebo group. HDL and triglyceride levels were not affected. Trials for other indications that monitored lipids have also noted no changes in levels. At this time, pyruvate is not recommended for treatment of hyperlipidemia.
Enhanced Exercise Endurance: 🙁 Three small trials have demonstrated no improvement in exercise response or increased exercise performance is not recommended.
Chemistry/Pharmacology:
Pyruvate is converted to pyruvic acid by the body. Pyruvic acid is a natural byproduct of glucose metabolism. In humans, pyruvic acid is used in the citric acid cycle for further ATP energy production. Pyruvate helps metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. It is absorbed from the GI tract and metabolized in the liver. The exact mechanism of action is unknown; it has been proposed that pyruvate supplements facilitate the transport of glucose into muscle cells, providing more energy to the muscle, or simply function to increase the supply of pyruvic acid. There is no recommended daily intake of pyruvate since it is produced from the metabolism of glucose. The use of pyruvate has increased in recent years in the weight loss, hyperlipidemia, and exercise performance markers. Other uses being investigated are tumor growth inhibition, cataracts, and anti-aging skin effects (topical use).
Drug Interactions:
None known.
Contraindications/Precautions:
Contraindicated in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in children due to lack of information on effects.
Adverse Effects:
Abdominal discomforts, bloating, flatus, diarrhea, and borborygmus reported at doses greater than 5 grams per day. No safety data available for pyruvate use longer than 6 weeks.
