Feel the burn? Thank lactic acid—or more precisely, lactate.
It’s long been cast as the villain behind muscle soreness and fatigue, but our modern science tells a different story. Far from being a metabolic waste product, lactic acid is actually a powerful performance ally when understood and supported properly.
Whether you're a weekend warrior, marathon runner, or just looking to optimize your workouts, understanding lactic acid could be the missing link between plateau and peak performance...
What Is Lactic Acid, Really?
Lactic acid is produced when your body breaks down carbohydrates for energy during exercise. This happens especially when oxygen levels are low (anaerobic conditions). It rapidly dissociates into lactate (the usable form) and hydrogen ions (the culprit behind that burning sensation).
Contrary to common myths:
- Lactate is not a toxin.
- It doesn’t directly cause soreness (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness—DOMS is more due to microscopic muscle damage after strenuous exercise).
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It’s actually an energy source, especially for the heart and brain.
As world-renowned lactic acid expert Dr. George Brooks puts it:
Lactate is not a metabolic waste product, it’s a central player in energy metabolism.
Emerging research shows lactate metabolized to propionate does much more than fuel muscles, it also:
- Boosts endurance
- Supports brain function
- Triggers mitochondrial adaptation
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Facilitates recovery
So Why the “Foe” Reputation?
When lactate builds up faster than it can be cleared, hydrogen ions accumulate, lowering pH and leading to muscle fatigue. The key isn’t to eliminate lactate, but to improve how your body metabolizes it.
That’s where your gut microbiome enters the picture. At FitBiomics, we’ve isolated a novel strain of Veillonella atypica that is found in abundance in elite endurance athletes. These strains thrive on lactate.
At FitBiomics, we have unlocked a metabolic pathway that makes lactate FUEL to power your muscles directly, with the help of a very important microbe strain.
Here's how it works:
- Exercise → Lactate is produced in muscles
- Lactate enters the gut via circulation
- Veillonella consumes lactate → Converts it to propionate
- Propionate enhances energy metabolism and performance (Scheiman et al., 2019)
A study in Nature Medicine showed that mice given Veillonella ran 13% longer just by improving lactate recycling (Scheiman et al., 2019). V•Nella can drive optimal workouts, recovery and energy levels throughout the day by tapping into this crucial metabolic pathway.
How FitBiomics Products Turn Lactate Into Fuel
V•Nella probiotics are naturally found to:
- Enhance lactate metabolism
- Improve recovery and endurance
- Balance inflammation and gut pH
- Optimize energy yield from every workout
Making Lactate Work for You
Lactic acid isn’t your enemy. Poor lactate clearance is. By building a microbiome that supports lactate metabolism, you can:
- Go longer without fatigue
- Recover faster
- Reduce inflammation
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Fuel your body and brain smarter
V•Nella turns your gut into a metabolic partner, turning “burn” into breakthrough.
References:
1. Brooks, G. A. (2021). “Lactate as a fulcrum of metabolism.” Cell Metabolism, 33(6), 1061–1075.
2. Scheiman, J., et al. (2019). “Meta-omics analysis of elite athletes identifies a performance-enhancing microbe.” Nature Medicine, 25(7), 1104–1109.
3. Miller, B. F., et al. (2020). “Lactate and mitochondrial adaptations to endurance training.” The Journal of Physiology, 598(2), 337–344.
4. Dr. Andy Galpin – The Drive Podcast, “Lactate, VO2 Max, and Athletic Longevity.”
5. Andrew Huberman – Huberman Lab: “Metabolism, Exercise Performance, and Recovery.”
6. Journal of Applied Physiology – “The lactate shuttle and mitochondrial health.”
7. Cani, P. D., & Delzenne, N. M. (2019). “Gut microbiota, SCFAs and metabolic health.” Nature Reviews Endocrinology