Pyruvate

Pyruvate suppliers and sourcing guide

Pyruvate is the anion of pyruvic acid (2-oxopropanoic acid), a three-carbon keto acid. Pyruvic acid is made commercially by microbial fermentation or chemically, for example by heating tartaric acid with a dehydrating agent, then neutralized with a base to make salts. Because the free acid is a corrosive, unstable liquid, supplement brands buy pyruvate as a white powdered salt, most often calcium pyruvate, or as sodium, potassium, magnesium or creatine pyruvate.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Specialty nutrients
Also known as: Calcium pyruvate · Sodium pyruvate · Pyruvic acid · 2-Oxopropanoic acid · Creatine pyruvate
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of pyruvate

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Calcium pyruvate
The most common supplement form, a white powder that also supplies calcium; the pyruvate share is stated on the spec.
Sodium and potassium pyruvate
More soluble salts used in drink mixes and in cosmetics, where sodium pyruvate is a skin-conditioning ingredient.
Creatine pyruvate
A salt of creatine and pyruvic acid sold for sports powders.
Pyruvic acid
The free acid, used in small amounts as a flavoring and in cosmetic peels rather than in supplements.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Pyruvate assay: Pyruvate content by HPLC or titration, reported on a dry basis.
Cation content: Calcium, sodium, potassium or magnesium by titration or ICP, which confirms the salt and its stoichiometry.
Related substances: Parapyruvate and other condensation products by HPLC, which form as pyruvate ages, especially in solution.
Water: Water by Karl Fischer or loss on drying, since some salts are hydrates.
Heavy metals: Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
Microbiology: Total plate count, yeast and mold, and absence of Salmonella and E. coli.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep pyruvate salts sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat; moisture and warmth let pyruvate condense into dimers and discolor. Avoid storing it dissolved. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay and related substances for older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Record the salt form, pyruvate percentage and cation content for each lot, because dosing depends on how much pyruvate the salt actually delivers. Watch for yellowing on older lots as a sign of degradation.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists sodium pyruvate (CAS 113-24-6) as an isolate under Schedule 1, item 2 of the Natural Health Products Regulations because it is used as a source of pyruvic acid.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists pyruvic acid with the technical effect "flavoring agent or adjuvant" and cites 21 CFR 172.515 (synthetic flavoring substances).
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for creatine pyruvate records its use as a food supplement and gives it the status not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Pyruvate suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking pyruvate suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell pyruvate? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of pyruvate can brands buy?

Common forms include calcium pyruvate, sodium and potassium pyruvate, creatine pyruvate and pyruvic acid. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for pyruvate include?

Expect pyruvate assay, cation content, related substances, water, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should pyruvate be stored?

What is the regulatory status of pyruvate?

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists sodium pyruvate (CAS 113-24-6) as an isolate under Schedule 1, item 2 of the Natural Health Products Regulations because it is used as a source of pyruvic acid. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists pyruvic acid with the technical effect "flavoring agent or adjuvant" and cites 21 CFR 172.515 (synthetic flavoring substances). The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for creatine pyruvate records its use as a food supplement and gives it the status not novel in food supplements.

More specialty nutrients

All 77 specialty nutrients

Sell ingredients to brands?

Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.

Request a listing