How is Lactic Acid Produced?

Lactic Acid – An Overview

What Is Lactic Acid?

Why Is Lactic Acid Produced?

Where is Lactic Acid Produced?

How is Lactic Acid Produced?

What Happens to Lactic Acid?

The Difference Between Lactic Acid and Lactate

So What Does Make the Cells Acidic?

Measuring Lactic Acid Levels

Lactic Acid – The Truth

Lactic Acid – Misconceptions and Myths

Lactic Acid – Commercial Applications

Lactate Threshold

 

Lactic Acid Production

Lactate (synonymous with lactic acid) is formed from the pyruvate that is produced as a product of glycolysis.   The glycolysis reaction progresses as follows:

Glucose + 2 NAD⁺ + 2 ADP + 2 P_i → 2 Pyruvate + 2 NADH + 2 H⁺ + 2 ATP + 2 H₂O

The above equation clearly shows that NAD⁺ is required for glycolysis to occur. To keep the glycolysis reaction going the NADH produced must be regenerated back into NAD⁺ so the reaction can continue to produce energy for the cell.

This is where lactate comes in. An enzyme called Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is able to convert the pyruvate into lactate and at the same time converts the spent NADH back into the NAD⁺ that glycolysis requires.

 Pyruvate + H⁺ + NADH → Lactate + NAD⁺