Effects of exogenous lactate administration on fat metabolism and glycogen synthesis factors in rats

Lactate has several beneficial roles as an energy resource and in metabolism. However, studies on the effects of oral administration of lactate on fat metabolism and glycogen synthesis are limited. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate how oral administration of lactate affects fat metabolism and glycogen synthesis factors at specific times (0, 30, 60, 120 min) after intake.

Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n = 24) were divided into four groups as follows: the control group (0 min) was sacrificed immediately after oral lactate administration; the test groups were administered lactate (2 g/kg) and sacrificed after 30, 60, and 120 min. Skeletal muscle and liver mRNA expression of GLUT4, FAT/CD36, PDH, CS, PC and GYS2 was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

GLUT4 and FAT/CD36 expression was significantly increased in skeletal muscle 120 min after lactate administration. PDH expression in skeletal muscle was altered at 30 and 120 min after lactate consumption, but was not significantly different compared to the control. CS, PC and GYS2 expression in liver was increased 60 min after lactate administration.

Our results indicate that exogenous lactate administration increases GLUT4 and FAT/CD36 expression in the muscle as well as glycogen synthase factors (PC, GYS2) in the liver after 60 min. Therefore, lactate supplementation may increase fat utilization as well as induce positive effects on glycogen synthesis in athletes.