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Cited by 522Advanced MRI Techniques and ApplicationsMuscle metabolism and nutritionCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Blood lactate is an important energy source for the human brain.

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van Hall, Gerrit, Stømstad, Morten, Rasmussen, Peter, Jans, Øle, Zaar, Morten, Gam, Christian, Quistorff, Bjørn, Secher, Niels H +1 more·2009·Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism
DOI 10.1038/jcbfm.2009.35
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Abstract

Lactate is a potential energy source for the brain. The aim of this study was to establish whether systemic lactate is a brain energy source. We measured in vivo cerebral lactate kinetics and oxidation rates in 6 healthy individuals at rest with and without 90 mins of intravenous lactate infusion (36 μmol per kg bw per min), and during 30mins of cycling exercise at 75% of maximal oxygen uptake while the lactate infusion continued to establish arterial lactate concentrations of 0.89 ± 0.08, 3.9 ± 0.3, and 6.9 ± 1.3 mmol/L, respectively. At rest, cerebral lactate utilization changed from a net lactate release of 0.06 ± 0.01 to an uptake of 0.16 ± 0.07 mmol/min during lactate infusion, with a concomitant decrease in the net glucose uptake. During exercise, the net cerebral lactate uptake was further increased to 0.28 ± 0.16 mmol/min. Most 13 C-label from cerebral [1- 13 C]lactate uptake was released as 13 CO 2 with 100% ± 24%, 86% ± 15%, and 87% ± 30% at rest with and without lactate infusion and during exercise, respectively. The contribution of systemic lactate to cerebral energy expenditure was 8% ± 2%, 19% ± 4%, and 27% ± 4% for the respective conditions. In conclusion, systemic lactate is taken up and oxidized by the human brain and is an important substrate for the brain both under basal and hyperlactatemic conditions.

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  • Most lactate disposal occurs via oxidation in working skeletal muscle during prolonged endurance exercise, but other tissues such as the brain, liver and kidneys are also involved in lactate turnover.

    “Most lactate disposal occurs via oxidation in working skeletal muscle during prolonged endurance exercise, but other tissues such as the brain, liver and kidneys are also involved in lactate turnover [121,122,123].”

    From Regulation of Energy Substrate Metabolism in Endurance Exercise (2021) · cites this paper as [123]

    Tissue Lactate Kinetics (p. 5) reports that the brain takes up and oxidizes lactate and that skeletal muscle shows near-complete oxidation during exercise. Whole Body Lactate Kinetics (p. 5) says oxidation was the primary route of lactate clearance during 30 minutes of cycling, but does not establish that most disposal occurred specifically in working muscle during prolonged endurance exercise. The cited passages do not address liver or kidney turnover. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Peripheral blood lactate can cross the blood-brain barrier and provides energy to the brain.

    “peripheral blood lactate (e.g., from muscles) can cross the blood–brain barrier and provides energy to the brain”

    From Dose-Response Matters! - A Perspective on the Exercise Prescription in Exercise-Cognition Research (2019) · cites this paper as van Hall et al., 2009

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Wolff J, Chao T (2004) Architectonics of non-neural cells of the nervous system. In: Non-neuronal cell of the nervous system: Function and dysfunction (Hertz L ed). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1-52

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Authors
van Hall, G., Stømstad, M., Rasmussen, P., Jans, Ø., Zaar, M., Gam, C., Quistorff, B., Secher, N. H., & Nielsen, H. B.
Affiliations
  • Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2009-04-01
Volume
29
Issue
6
Pages
1121-1129
ISSN
  • 0271-678X (ISSN-L)
  • 1559-7016
DOI
10.1038/jcbfm.2009.35
OpenAlex
W2117825985
Cited by
522
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 19
FWCI
15.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
blood lactate, brain energy metabolism, lactate oxidation, brain glucose uptake, physical activity, hyperlactatemia
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Energy Metabolism, Glucose, Humans, Kinetics, Male, Lactic Acid, Carbohydrate Metabolism

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