Pyruvate or pyruvic acid is an intermediate in several metabolic pathways including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, fatty acid metabolism, and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Abnormalities in pyruvate alone are not diagnostic of any disease, but they are clinically useful when measured with lactate deform the lactate to pyruvate ratio. The lactate to pyruvate ratio is elevated in most mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders. On the other hand, a low lactate to pyruvate ratio occurs in certain genetic conditions including pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. The lactate to pyruvate ratio is not necessarily diagnostic of any specific disorder. Ideally, lactate should be obtained from an arterial source, pyruvate can be obtained from venous blood.
Normal Ranges for pyruvate:
0.08-0.16 mmol/L
NIH Unit
0.7-1.4 mg/dL
Sources:
https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8657
https://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/path_handbook/handbook/test1622.html
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/inborn-errors-of-metabolism-identifying-the-specific-disorder
Pyruvate
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