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Lactic acid (lactate) in the blood

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 18.10.2021

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Lactate (lactic acid) is the final product of glycolysis. In conditions of rest, the main source of lactate in the plasma is red blood cells. When exercising, lactate leaves the muscles, turns into pyruvate in the liver, or is metabolized by the tissue of the brain and the heart. The reference values (norm) of lactate concentration in the blood are reflected in the table.

The concentration of lactate in the blood increases with tissue hypoxia due to a decrease in tissue perfusion or a decrease in the oxygen content in the blood. The accumulation of lactate can reduce the pH of the blood and reduce the concentration of bicarbonate, leading to metabolic acidosis.

Reference values (norm) of lactate concentration in blood

	Concentration of lactate in the blood
Blood	Mg / dL	Mmol / l
Venous Arterial	8.1-15.3 <11.3	0.9-1.7 <1.3
The lactate / pyruvate ratio	10/1

trusted-source [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]

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