The Peter Attia Drive cover image

#312 - A masterclass in lactate: Its critical role as metabolic fuel, implications for diseases, and therapeutic potential from cancer to brain health and beyond | George A. Brooks, Ph.D.

The Peter Attia Drive

NOTE

The Role of Lactate in Exercise and Mitochondrial Biogenesis

Lactate plays a crucial role in mitochondrial biogenesis, but its effects depend significantly on whether it is produced endogenously during exercise or provided exogenously. Individuals who engage in more intense physical activity naturally produce more lactate, which is associated with favorable physiological responses. An experiment pairing lactate intake across different activity levels suggests that simply administering lactate does not yield the same benefits as when it is produced through exercise. This disparity is attributed to the accompanying changes in pH and proton levels that occur during physical activity, which are essential for unlocking lactate's potential benefits. Importantly, the fluctuating outcomes in research on lactate's impact on mitochondrial protein expression may stem from differences in lactate sources, highlighting the importance of the context in which lactate is generated.

00:00
Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner