A reassessment of the energetic significance of blood lactate accumulation during exercise

In this perspective paper, we reassess the theoretical bases and reanalyse the experimental evidence supporting the concept that blood lactate accumulation during exercise at powers above the maximal lactate steady state corresponds to and reflects the metabolic power derived from anaerobic lactic metabolism. We discuss the biochemical background of anaerobic lactic metabolism and the direct proportionality between the anaerobic lactic metabolic power and the corresponding rate of lactate accumulation. We compute the energy equivalent of lactate accumulation, defined as the slope of such relationship. We then discuss lactate distribution and its impact on lactate washout during recovery at the end of exercise and the concept of lactate threshold within the present energetic perspective. We eventually explain why we can have higher yet stable lactate concentrations at exercise than those prevailing at rest and we discuss the energetic significance of lactate accumulation during the exercise transients (early lactate). Our aim is to convince readers that a simple measure of blood lactate is sufficient to obtain valuable information on the power generated by anaerobic lactic metabolism.