Ensuring that you have enough calcium pyruvate in your system is important for a number of critical bodily functions.
What is Calcium Pyruvate?
Calcium pyruvate is a natural form of calcium produced by your body that aids in the digestion of carbohydrates. Pyruvic acid is produced in the body when it breaks down sugars and is naturally available in foods like apples, cheese, and wine. It is stabilized by the addition of calcium or sodium. The resulting compound initiates the body’s production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during aerobic respiration when the body takes in extra oxygen while moving. Calcium pyruvate is sold primarily as a weight-loss supplement and is available in most vitamin stores.
Pyruvic acid is produced in the body when it breaks down sugars and is naturally available in foods like apples, cheese, and wine. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Calcium Pyruvate Benefits
Calcium pyruvate provides benefits that include weight loss, building muscle protein, boosting energy levels, prevent cataracts, aging, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Weight Loss
This compound is the fundamental fuel for cellular respiration. This means that it helps the body produce more energy, and therefore burn more fat in the process. In some studies, patients given large doses of calcium pyruvate did lose noticeably more weight than other participants. However, most of the supplements that you can buy off the shelf are in doses of 5mg, which may be too low to be considered effective. A report by Igho Onakpoya in Critical Reviews of Food Science and Nutrition claims that, despite certain side effects that occur when high levels of this supplement are consumed, there is a measurable difference in weight loss achievements. [1]
Athletic Endurance
Athletes and bodybuilders may take calcium pyruvate as an energy booster, to help stimulate the ATP process before workout sessions, burn fat, and build muscle protein. Studies have shown that large doses of calcium pyruvate do indeed help to build more muscles, but once again, most studies have used higher doses of the supplement that is available commercially. [2]
Cataracts
Calcium pyruvate is a glycation inhibitor, which means that it prevents proteins from bonding with sugar molecules in the body. Glycation of proteins in the lens of the eye is a factor in the development of cataracts, and taking supplements of this compound may prevent or slow down this process. [3]
Mental Energy
Some studies have shown that this supplement can help increase mental cognition and exploration, helping to counteract some of the effects of aging and Alzheimer’s disease. [4] [5]
Side Effects of Calcium Pyruvate
In large doses, calcium pyruvate can cause severe intestinal discomfort and diarrhea. People suffering from IBS should not take oral doses of this supplement.
