The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature

Lactate is a key molecule in exercise metabolism. In the last two decades, there has been a revolution in the understanding of its role – from a byproduct of hypoxic muscles to a major energy resource and a signaling molecule – ‘lactormone’. The aim of this review is to compile all the up-to-date in...

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Main Author: Nikolay Mandadzhiev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-02-01
Series:Folia Medica
Online Access:https://foliamedica.bg/article/144693/download/pdf/
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author Nikolay Mandadzhiev
author_facet Nikolay Mandadzhiev
author_sort Nikolay Mandadzhiev
collection DOAJ
description Lactate is a key molecule in exercise metabolism. In the last two decades, there has been a revolution in the understanding of its role – from a byproduct of hypoxic muscles to a major energy resource and a signaling molecule – ‘lactormone’. The aim of this review is to compile all the up-to-date information that is available on the general metabolism of lactate, but also the specific use that exercise physiologists, coaches, and athletes can get out of lactate measurements, lactate-based training zones, and periodization of training sessions. Since the revolution in the understanding of lactate’s role in normal metabolism and disease in the late 20th century, more evidence has been assembled regarding the specific part it plays in exercise. From the vast body of knowledge, the researchers developed the concept of training intensity distribution into zones according to the level of blood lactate. The end goal of training to a specific lactate level or ‘threshold’ is the increased adaptation to specific training stimuli and ultimately better performance, which has been backed up by the achievements of numerous athletes training according to this concept.
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spelling doaj-art-a2da804010da4c3f93f189c7417d79742025-08-20T03:04:51ZengPensoft PublishersFolia Medica1314-21432025-02-016711710.3897/folmed.67.e144693144693The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literatureNikolay Mandadzhiev0Medical University of PlovdivLactate is a key molecule in exercise metabolism. In the last two decades, there has been a revolution in the understanding of its role – from a byproduct of hypoxic muscles to a major energy resource and a signaling molecule – ‘lactormone’. The aim of this review is to compile all the up-to-date information that is available on the general metabolism of lactate, but also the specific use that exercise physiologists, coaches, and athletes can get out of lactate measurements, lactate-based training zones, and periodization of training sessions. Since the revolution in the understanding of lactate’s role in normal metabolism and disease in the late 20th century, more evidence has been assembled regarding the specific part it plays in exercise. From the vast body of knowledge, the researchers developed the concept of training intensity distribution into zones according to the level of blood lactate. The end goal of training to a specific lactate level or ‘threshold’ is the increased adaptation to specific training stimuli and ultimately better performance, which has been backed up by the achievements of numerous athletes training according to this concept.https://foliamedica.bg/article/144693/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Nikolay Mandadzhiev
The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature
Folia Medica
title The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature
title_full The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature
title_fullStr The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature
title_full_unstemmed The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature
title_short The contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription – a review of the literature
title_sort contemporary role of lactate in exercise physiology and exercise prescription a review of the literature
url https://foliamedica.bg/article/144693/download/pdf/
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