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Pyruvate Supplement
Q.
I
have been struggling to lose weight for the
past 6 months with great results. I have
been
working with a trainer and she has really been
great. The problem is my appetite and food
intake.
I cannot seem to reduce my food intake and
have been advised to take various supplements
to
help with this problem. One of these supplements
is Pyruvate. Should I try it and will it
make
a difference with my appetite and goal to reduce
body fat?
A.
Congratulations for your success. I cannot recommend
for you to take Pyruvate to accomplish your
goals but I can give you some of the research
data concerning Pyruvate that is available.
Pyruvate (or pyruvic acid) occurs naturally
in the body and is an end product of the metabolism
of sugar or starch. Ronald Stanko, along with
scientists from Montifiore University Hospital,
Pittsburgh, PA demonstrated that dietary supplementation
with Pyruvate in obese women consuming a low
calorie, high carbohydrate, 22% protein liquid
diet increased fat loss by up to 48%. Pyruvate
subjects also had minimal body protein losses
associated with low calorie diets. Exercise
was prohibited and subjects were strictly monitored
on a metabolic ward. Losses were not considered
significant by the investigators due to the
low calorie intake and the metabolic adaptation
to weight reduction. Researchers of these studies
hypothesize that with larger changes in body
composition major detrimental changes may be
seen as well as a limit to the amount of weight
loss without side effects. They also suggest
that Pyruvate supplementation may be more beneficial
to weight maintenance during and
after refeeding on low calorie diets. Similar
studies have been done with much the same conclusions.
In
another study, supplementation of Pyruvate,
together with either the amino acid leucine
or isoleucine, stimulated protein synthesis
in skeletal muscle.
In
yet another previous study at the University
of Pittsburgh school of Medicine, subjects supplemented
with Pyruvate who consumed a high-fat diet experienced
a decrease in plasma cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol
concentrations by 4% and 5% respectively. Cholesterol
remained unchanged in the control groups that
did not take the Pyruvate. In addition, resting
heart rate, diastolic blood pressure and rate
pressure product were unchanged in the control
group but decreased by 9%, 6%, and 12% respectively
with Pyruvate supplementation.
These
studies and many more in the recent 5 years
have encouraged a flood of Pyruvate supplements
into the market. Pyruvate is being advertised
as the miracle diet pill that will increase
metabolism, fat loss, muscle gain, and weight
loss. In my opinion this is false advertising.
The studies mentioned do not encourage or warrant
indiscriminate use of Pyruvate.
I
have worked with clients that have had some
short term fat loss on 1-3 grams a day of Pyruvate
taken 30 minutes before meals or exercise however
practically some of the clients experienced
mild to extreme hunger after using Pyruvate
for 2 to 3 weeks.
People
that are currently complying with a strict regime
of exercise low calorie food program, having
only 2-3% body fat to lose 2-3% in a time of
3 weeks or less (body builders preparing for
a competition or people needing to lose little
body fat for professional reasons) may experience
some benefit with Pyruvate supplementation.
Others probably will not considering the current
data. Those who take Pyruvate should be aware
of the possibility of increased hunger with
usage.
I
hope this helped. Please
contact me for further information or if you have another question!
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