Pyruvate present in biological fluids represents a useful biomarker for inferring cellular redox state, mitochondrial aerobic capacity and response to exercise in both a native and supplemented state. Commonly pyruvate is assessed intracellularly via muscle biopsy or in blood/plasma. We review a non-invasive means of monitoring perturbations to intracellular and blood pyruvate levels indirectly by monitoring alterations of pyruvate in perspiration during the course of physical exertion (i.e., exercise or strenuous activity) over an assessed time-period in both a native and supplemented state. Pyruvate as a biomarker can allow the assessment of exercise performance and recovery, permitting the determination of the effectiveness of metabolic intervention (supplementation) in a non-invasive manner in bodily sweat. Pyruvate in sweat may also be used to infer disease states or monitor supplementation levels in other regimes other than exercise.

Background: Physical exertion places a demand on cellular metabolic reserves. By providing key metabolic intermediates to mitochondria before, during and after training, optimal cellular homeostasis and metabolic replenishing can be augmented, enabling optimal maintenance and recovery of cellular reserves aimed at improving aerobic cellular function. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate if the exercise work capacity and recovery can be augmented through the administration of a synergistic blend of key metabolic intermediates which included: Citrate, Malate, Pyruvate and Vitamin C. Methods: A total of 14 participants volunteered to complete two identical training sessions; a Control session and a Supplemented session two weeks later. Three identical exercises, comprising 10 sets each, were included in the two sessions which included a 20 second work-set followed, by 90 seconds of rest. The number of repetitions, the repetition in which muscle fatigue and exercise induced muscle pain (burn) initiated, and peak muscle pain (burn) severity were recorded.Results: Nutritional intervention using tricarboxylic cycle intermediates provides a means for directly modulating mitochondrial performance expressed physiologically as improved work capacity and the ability to augment athletic performance. Concordantly, this study demonstrated improved recovery post-training minimizing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).