Creatine Pyruvate

Creatine Pyruvate is that of a compound of bonded creatine to that of pyruvic acid. For more information on creatine and its functions within the energy cycle please refer to creatine. Pyruvic Acid can be bound to creatine to enhance the use of both compounds within the body for many further enhanced benefits. Pyruvate is actually the buffered form of pyruvic acid and is a product created in the body during the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein.

Pyruvate is formed in the body as a by-product of the normal metabolism of carbohydrates and protein and is present in several foods, including red apples, cheese, dark beer, and red wine.

Pyruvate is actually believed to help athletes lose weight, improve the metabolism, and helped increase endurance.

Pyruvate is essential in the metabolic energy process. It’s the combination of energy system depletion (ATP-CP, lactic acid, aerobic) along with a lowering blood PH (acidity) that causes a person to crash during their training. In the absence of carbohydrates, you need to harness more energy yield by speeding up the breakdown of fats (lipolysis) into fatty acids, glycerol, and ketones. Through trial and error, it has been found that supplementing five to six grams of pyruvate promotes acetyl CoA accumulation, which in turn increases the formation of ketones to be used for energy. (By the way, something your anatomy and physiology book won’t tell you, ketones can be used by the brain and actually spare muscle tissue breakdown better than carbs do.)

So, an increase dietary fats and pyruvate is easily done by increasing your saturated fats. Simply switch one of your white meat protein meals to a red meat protein. Next, adding another tablespoon of smart fats to balance out the saturated fat increase would be a very wise thing to do. Finally, supplement five grams of creatine pyruvate taken in divided dosages with food.

It is also highly recommended to try supplementing with calcium pyruvate as a stand alone product asd apposed to creatine pyruvate. Calcium and perhaps even magnesium are depleted more readily in "plasma" hypertrophy than with contractile protein hypertrophy; therefore, the short-term use of large amounts of supplemental calcium are warranted. The pyruvate converts and is stored as pyruvic acid, which in turn tempers the catabolism of glycogen. This allows you to train harder yet protects against too fast a muscle breakdown or thyroid shutdown.

Pyruvate has been shown in studies to possibly aid fat loss efforts. It is believed to do this by increasing the metabolic rate. A clinical trial found that supplementation with 22-44 grams per day of pyruvate, when compared with placebo, enhanced weight loss and resulted in a greater reduction of body fat in overweight adults consuming a low fat diet. Three controlled studies combining 6-10 grams per day of pyruvate with an exercise programme, reported similar effects on weight loss and body fat. Animal studies suggest that pyruvate supplementation leads to weight loss by increasing the resting metabolic rate. A few clinical trials also indicated that pyruvate supplements may improve exercise endurance though weight-lifting capacity did not necessarily improve.

Preliminary research indicates that pyruvate functions as an major antioxidant, inhibiting the production of harmful free radicals. Preliminary research with animals suggests that, due to its antioxidant function, pyruvate may inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors.13 However, this effect has not been confirmed in human studies.

Because pyruvate is not an essential nutrient, pyruvate is not associated with a deficiency state.

Most human research with pyruvate and weight loss has used at least 30 grams per day. However, such large amounts may not be necessary. In a six-week double-blind trial, as little as 6 grams per day of pyruvate in combination with exercise, led to greater weight loss and loss of body fat, compared with a placebo plus exercise.

It has been noted that taking high intakes of pyruvate can trigger gastrointestinal upset, such as wind, bloating, and diarrhoea. One preliminary study in exercising women found 10 grams per day of pyruvate reduced blood levels of HDL (the “good” cholesterol) after one month. So although pyruvate promotes weight loss, which is good for heart health, it is important to monitor cholesterol levels as it may reduce HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with pyruvate.