EFFECTS OF PYRUVATE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING TRAINING ON HEMATOLOGIC AND METABOLIC PROFILES

Abstract

881 Pyruvate supplementation has been reported to promote fat mass loss in sedentary obese individuals possibly by altering carbohydrate and/or lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of pyruvate supplementation (10 g/d) during training on standard clinical hematological and metabolic profiles. 23 healthy females (33±2 yrs, 71.5±2 kg, 27.4±0.7 BMI, 34.9±1% body fat) were matched/paired and assigned to ingest two times per day for 30 days in a double-blind and randomized manner either a placebo (PL) containing 2.5 g calcium carbonate, 4 g maltodextrin, & 1 g dextrose or 5 g/d of calcium pyruvate (PYR). During this time, subjects participated in a supervised walking (30 min, 3 times per week at 70% of VO2max) and resistance-training program (2 sets of 8-12 repetitions, 8 machines, 3 times per week). Prior to and following supplementation, fasting blood samples were obtained. A comprehensive clinical chemistry profile was run on serum samples and whole blood samples were analyzed for cell blood counts. Data are presented as mean±SEM percent changes from pre-supplementation values for the PL and PYR groups, respectively. ANOVA for repeated measures revealed no significant (p<0.05) or clinically meaningful differences between groups in urea nitrogen, creatinine, the ratio of urea nitrogen to creatinine, uric acid, glucose, electrolyte status, total protein, albumin, globulin, carbon dioxide, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, white blood cells, or types of lymphocytes. There was some evidence that muscle and liver enzymes following training were lower in the PYR group (CK 11±18, 10±11%, p=0.97; LDH 4±5, -9±4%, p=0.06; AST 16±7,-1±7%, p=0.13; ALT 23±17, -21±9%, p=0.03; GGT 10±12, -7±6%, p=0.06). There was also evidence that PYR supplementation may have negated some of the positive lipid modifying effects of training (CHL 3±4, -2±4%, p=0.38; HDL 14±6,-6±4%, p=0.01; CHL/HDL ratio -8±5, 4±4%, p=0.06; LDL 4±7, -7±5%, p=0.25; VLDL -9±9, 19±17%, p=0.17; TG-13±7, 18±18%, p=0.13). Results indicate that although most hematological markers were not affected, additional study is necessary to evaluate the effects of PYR supplementation on lipid profiles and to determine whether the changes observed may limit the usefulness of this nutrient as a weight loss supplement.