The effects of short-term pyruvate supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in young male athletes

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of short-term (28 days) pyruvate supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in young male athletes. Methods. Twenty young (21.7±2.1 years) male soccer players were allocated to two randomly assigned trials in placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Subjects in the pyruvate group orally ingested tablets that contains pyruvate at a dose of 2 g per day in two equal doses for 4 weeks. Results. There were no statistically significant changes in body mass and muscle mass within or between trials (P>0.05) after the supplementation protocol. Percentage of body fat similarly decreased in both pyruvate and placebo group after the supplementation protocol (P>0.05). There were no changes in exercise performance indicators (bench and leg press, vertical jump, VO2 max shuttle test) within or between trials (P>0.05). No subject reported any side effects from pyruvate or placebo treatment. Conclusion. The results of the present study indicate that supplementation with pyruvate during training does not significantly alter the body mass, fat and muscle mass or performance indicators in athletes. Pyruvate supplementation appears to be ineffective as a fat loss strategy in young male athletes.