Lactate and lactic acid are
actually used as a fuel by some tissues
in the body including neurons and cardiac (heart) muscle. The fact is there is so much more to lactate than its supposed role in acidifying the cellular contents of muscle (a myth that can easily be deconstructed) and it is integral to our existence.
How does lactic acid affect the heart?
Very high levels of lactic acid cause a serious, sometimes life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis can also occur in a person who takes metformin (Glucophage) to control diabetes when heart or kidney failure or a severe infection is also present.
Does the heart build lactic acid?
The discomfort comes about when heart muscle is working harder than usual but does not receive as much oxygenated blood as it needs.
The lack of oxygen causes a build-up of lactic acid
, which is produced by muscles breaking down sugars to create energy. The build-up triggers nerve endings to signal pain.
Can the heart use lactate?
The
heart consumes lactate under resting conditions in normal healthy people
. A limited number of studies have measured lactate exchange across the heart during exercise by using simultaneous arterial and coronary sinus
Why does lactic acid hurt?
The body makes lactic acid when it is low in the oxygen it needs to convert glucose into energy. Lactic acid buildup can
result in muscle pain, cramps, and muscular fatigue
. These symptoms are typical during strenuous exercise and are not usually anything to worry about as the liver breaks down any excess lactate.
What does lactic acid do to the body?
The body makes lactic acid when
it is low in the oxygen it needs to convert glucose into energy
. Lactic acid buildup can result in muscle pain, cramps, and muscular fatigue. These symptoms are typical during strenuous exercise and are not usually anything to worry about as the liver breaks down any excess lactate.
What does lactate do for the heart?
Lactate has two established functions in the metabolism of the heart. First, during aerobic metabolism lactate is
a normal myocardial fuel
, which during certain conditions (e.g., exercise) can account for the major part of the myocardial oxygen consumption.
What organs can use lactate for energy?
Still, even in the absence of data obtained during hard, upright exercise, lactate may be considered to be the major fuel energy source for essential tissues such as brain,
red skeletal muscle, and heart
on conditions of increased energy demand.
What requires most energy for cardiac function?
All cellular processes require
ATP
as a primary energy source. The heart requires ATP for the function of membrane transport systems (e.g., Na
+
/K
+
-ATPase) as well as for sarcomere contraction and relaxation, which involve myosin ATPase and ATP-dependent transport of calcium by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
How lactic acid is removed from the body?
When
a period of exercise is over
, lactic acid must be removed. The body’s tolerance of lactic acid is limited. Lactic acid is taken to the liver by the blood, and either: converted to glucose, then glycogen – glycogen levels in the liver and muscles can then be restored.
What foods to avoid if you have lactic acidosis?
To avoid adding to an already high D-lactate load in those with a history of D-lactic acidosis, it is prudent to avoid intake of foods containing high amounts of D-lactate also. Some fermented foods are rich in D-lactate, including
yogurt, sauerkraut, and pickled vegetables
and should not be eaten.
How long does lactic acid stay in muscles?
In fact, lactic acid is removed from muscle anywhere from
just a few hours to less than a day after a workout
, and so it doesn’t explain the soreness experienced days after a workout.
Can lactic acid be harmful?
Very high levels of lactic acid
cause a serious, sometimes life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis can also occur in a person who takes metformin (Glucophage) to control diabetes when heart or kidney failure or a severe infection is also present.
What are the signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis?
The symptoms of lactic acidosis include
abdominal or stomach discomfort, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fast, shallow breathing
, a general feeling of discomfort, muscle pain or cramping, and unusual sleepiness, tiredness, or weakness. If you have any symptoms of lactic acidosis, get emergency medical help right away.
Do bananas help with lactic acid build up?
Bananas are rich in carbohydrates essential for muscle repair as well as
in magnesium
that helps fight lactic acid build-up in the body.
How does the body use lactate for energy?
In muscle tissue, for example, the white, or “fast twitch,” muscle cells convert glycogen and glucose into lactate and excrete it as fuel for neighboring red, or “slow twitch,” muscle cells, where lactate is burned in the mitochondrial reticulum to produce the energy molecule ATP that powers muscle fibers.
