Lactate production and clearance in exercise. Effects of training. A mini-review

Lactate accumulates if pyruvate formation exceeds pyruvate oxidation. Accelerated glycogenolysis is essential for lactate production. Glycogen and epinephrine enhance glycogen phosphorylase activity and this is higher in type II b than in type I fibers. Pyruvate oxidation is enhanced by exercise-induced increase in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and is relatively impaired by low oxygen availability and low mitochondrial oxidative capacity. During exercise lactate is eliminated in liver, heart, and resting and working muscle. In muscle, elimination depends on plasma concentration, fiber type, and fiber conditions. Due to influence on hormonal response, mitochondrial oxidative capacity and fiber recruitment, training diminishes glycogenolysis and lactate production. Training also increases lactate clearance. This reflects increased hepatic capacity for gluconeogenesis as well as increased lactate transport capacity and oxidative capacity and reduced glycogenolysis in muscle. The fact that endurance performance can be predicted from the plasma lactate versus exercise intensity relationship illustrates that the plasma lactate level is a finely balanced result of the interplay between many factors of importance for endurance exercise.