"Dr. Mallet explained that while the heart is stopped, it resembles a car that has run out of gas, and pyruvate is like a high-octane fuel. Surgeons performing by-pass surgery use a potassium-based solution called cardioplegia to cause the heart to stop beating during surgery. During surgical arrest, the natural anti-oxidants that work to prevent tissue damage caused by free radicals are depleted, leaving the heart vulnerable to oxidative injury. By supplying pyruvate, this oxidative damage may be reduced or eliminated, thus accelerating the recovery process, Dr. Mallet said"