Calcium pyruvate is a substance that is naturally formed in our bodies. It is known to contribute to the digestion of carbohydrates and is essential for your metabolism. There is an unstable version of this specific substance that is known as pyruvic acid however this is typically stabilised by adding calcium. The compound calcium pyruvate is best known for starting Kreb’s cycle which typically gives your body more energy during activities such as aerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration can best be described as a symptom that occurs in the presence of oxygen while you are exercising. The most natural sources of pyruvate include apples, dark beer, cheese and red wine.
It is believed that calcium pyruvate can help with weight and/or fat loss. This is because it is mainly used as a raw material in cellular respiration and therefore if you provide the body with more calcium pyruvate, this should actually help to increase the amount of energy that you burn. This, in turn, will allow you to burn more fat.
A clinical study was carried out at the University of Pittsburgh and the results proved that calcium pyruvate does indeed have a fat burning affect. The study took a group of obese women who were then put on a 1000 calorie diet for three weeks. A certain percentage of the women received calcium pyruvate and they averaged just short of a 50% higher fat loss than the other women. However the recommended dosage of calcium pyruvate is 5 g per day, and the women in this study received up to 30 g a day. Unfortunately the cost of taking such a high dosage may prove to be extremely expensive and therefore many experts still believe that there is no solid evidence that calcium pyruvate has any weight loss benefits.
One of the main benefits of calcium pyruvate supplementation may be for endurance athletes. They will require far more adenosine triphophate (ATP) production to provide them with sufficient energy so that they are able to perform sustained bouts of exercise. ATP is produced in the body via calcium pyruvate. The main theoretical benefits of calcium pyruvate to endurance athlete are that they produce optimal levels of ATP which will allow glucose and protein to be transported directly to the muscle cells. However there is little solid research to prove how effective this would be. With that said a study has been published in the Journal of Applied Physiology which claims that by taking 25 g of calcium pyruvate in combination with 75 g of dihydroxyacetone, it was proven to increase tricep muscle endurance by up to 20%. However, you must again consider that such high amounts of this compound will typically be unavailable to recreational and mainstream athletes.
There are certain other potential benefits of using calcium pyruvate supplementation and these include antioxidant activity for anti-ageing, increased glyogen storage, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, an increase in muscle building and muscle retention and an increased resting metabolic rate. However all the specific studies into calcium pyruvate supplementation only show benefits from a high dosage and, as mentioned, 5 g per day is typically the recommended daily allowance. Unfortunately there are no known benefits from taking such a small dosage, although as calcium pyruvate is actually produced in the body there is little chance of an overdose. However there are certain side-effects from taking such a high dose of calcium pyruvate and these can include bloating, gas, diarrhoea and increased bowel movements.
If you are actually considering using calcium pyruvate, but have high blood pressure you should look to use a sodium free brand. However if you are on any specific medications or have any medical problems it is strongly recommended that you consult with your physician first. Calcium pyruvate is known to be immediately absorbed when taken and many of the clinical studies have actually mixed this compound with food. There is generally a lot of hype around calcium pyruvate and this is based on the fact that it may be able to raise your metabolic rate and therefore help you lose weight. But, as mentioned, there is very little evidence to support this. Some of the earliest studies on this compound actually showed that calcium pyruvate managed to increase the resting metabolism in rats, but unfortunately the results of this study have never actually been confirmed in human studies.
Calcium pyruvate is readily available as a weight loss supplement in many health food stores and pharmacies. However the price may be a major concern to many dieters and first-time buyers. Due to the fact that calcium pyruvate may cause certain side-effects, it is always advisable to start with a very minimal dosage. But we are now aware, that even though this compound is naturally produced in the body, it will have very little effect in small doses. This is the main reason that many experts recommend a healthy and well balanced diet and plenty of exercise as the best way to lose weight.
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