Serum glucose and lactic acid concentrations during prolonged and strenuous exercise in man

Serum glucose and lactic acid levels were determined in 20 young volunteers prior to and following marches with increasing back pack loads (30 and 35 kg) and distances (6 and 12 km). The drop in serum glucose levels correlated well with the degree of effort. A significant mean drop in serum glucose level of 10.3 mg% was detected only in the group carrying 35 kg for a distance of 12 km. In this group, objective physiological parameters as well as subjective grading of the march's difficulty indicated the effort to be strenuous. Serum lactic acid level did not change significantly following any march. Serum glucose level may serve an indicator for determination of work's duration and intensity, determination of optimal distances for untrained hikers and of optimal loads to be carried for various distances.