George Brooks, Ph.D. on Lactate Shuttle Theory, Relevance for Traumatic Brain Injury & More

Lactate Basics

George Brooks explains that lactate, often misunderstood as a mere byproduct of exercise, is actually a crucial energy source for the heart and brain. He compares lactate to a fire department at a blaze, mitigating problems rather than causing them. This perspective shifts the understanding of lactate from a waste product to a vital fuel, especially during energy crises in the body 1 2.

People have thought that lactate is a dead end metabolite, that it's a poison. But why is it always there? Why is the fire department always there at a fire? Is lactate the cause of the problem? Or is it there to mitigate the problem just like the fire department?

--- George Brooks

He also clarifies the common confusion between lactate and lactic acid, noting that glycolysis produces lactate, not lactic acid, and that the associated acidosis comes from other processes 3.

   

Exercise Physiology

During exercise, lactate serves as a key fuel for muscles, the heart, and the brain. George Brooks explains that while lactate levels rise with intense activity, trained athletes can efficiently clear and use it, enhancing their performance 4 5.

Athletes actually produce more than people who are less capable or less highly trained. But they remove it, they use it.

--- George Brooks

He highlights the importance of different exercise types in increasing mitochondrial mass and lactate transporters, which are crucial for optimal energy production and muscle adaptation 6.

   

Signaling Molecule

Lactate also functions as a signaling molecule, regulating genes related to mitochondrial function and muscle adaptation. George Brooks discusses how lactate influences various physiological processes, including brain function and neuroprotection 7 8.

Lactate stimulates the release of Norepinephrine from those locus corollius neurons. And if you think about it, I know from my own personal experience that after I exercise, I definitely have better focus and attention.

--- Rhonda Patrick

This signaling role underscores lactate's importance beyond energy production, highlighting its potential in therapeutic applications for brain health and injury recovery 9.