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Few people understand how the body breaks down foods and converts them into energy, so it is highly unlikely that the average individual has heard of pyruvate or pyruvic acid. This is an alpha-keto acid that is important in several biochemical processes in the body in order to produce energy for the cells.
When you ingest carbohydrates, and even some proteins and fats, your body converts them to glucose to provide energy for the body. Most people are aware of this because the inability to utilize glucose properly is known as Diabetes. However, most people would not be aware of the next step in the process. |
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Pyruvate as an Essential Energy Source.
When the body metabolizes the glucose further, a process known as glycolysis, the product is pyruvate, which can then be used in one of two ways. If there is sufficient oxygen, as in humans, it is converted into a coenzyme that begins a series of reactions and breaks down further into carbon dioxide. In some animals and in plants where oxygen levels are insufficient to support such a process, the pyruvate is broken down anaerobically and creates either lactic acid (in animals) or ethanol (in plants).
Because pyruvic acid can be converted into carbohydrates, fatty acids, energy, or even an amino acid (a building block for proteins), it is highly important to the metabolism and unites several metabolic processes. Some believe that calcium pyruvate could be the key to the beginning of all life because of its versatility as a structural part of so many processes and its use as an energy source to feed all kinds of cellular structures. This stems from the theory of evolution and the belief that the first organisms were anaerobic because the earth was practically oxygen free at the time. In this case, biochemical materials would have preceded life due to their ability to produce energy without oxygen.
Add to this that recent experiments show indications of the substance being synthesized abiotically and you have a substance that could have created life where there was none. While the idea is controversial and by far unproven, it has been found that, under sufficient pressure and temperature, iron sulfide can form pyruvic acid. Scientists argue that the iron rich crust of the earth and the fluid from hydrothermal vents on the earth (volcano like formations or geysers) could well have provided a fertile basis for the creation of life on earth.
What we do know about calcium pyruvate for sure is that in this age of need for alternative fuel sources, the ability of pyruvate to produce ethanol is quite important. Usually occurring naturally in corn and sugar, ethanol could now be formed more readily and efficiently in more plants through the use of pyruvate. Also, it could be a potentially effective treatment as an alternative to insulin and pills for both Type I and Type II Diabetics, or at least a supplement to assist in the reduction of drug therapy.
In the world of weight loss, bodybuilders have long been using this property as research has shown that it is an excellent weight loss supplement, as well as a substance that provides excessive amounts of energy for better exercise performance. Research does advocate only adding mild amounts of pyruvate to the weight loss diet, as it has property that can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. It should also be noted that the substance can be found naturally in many foods and drinks, such as red apples, red wine and cheese.
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