Effect Of Lactate Salts On Performance And Metabolic Variables During Incremental Exercise In Healthy Males

Abstract

PURPOSE To determine the effect of a supplement containing calcium lactate and magnesium lactate versus placebo (PLA) during a continuous bout of incremental exercise to exhaustion. METHODS Twelve males (22.6 ± 2.7 yr) underwent pre-experimental testing to determine their maximal aerobic capacity (x = 50.2 ±6.7 ml·kg−1·min−1). Two timing patterns were tested: the supplement in capsules taken one hour prior to exercise (CAP) and the supplement dissolved in 12 ml of water taken immediately before exercise (SOL). Subjects underwent 3 incremental exercise tests on a cycle ergometer before which they were fed 787 mg of calcium lactate combined with 653 mg of magnesium lactate (in CAP or SOL as stated above) and one where they were fed PLA. Exercise tests consisted of 4 min of loadless pedaling on a cycle ergometer followed by an increase of 30 W min−1 until exhaustion. Blood samples were drawn pre- and post-trial for determination of lactate, glucose, electrolytes, and free fatty acid concentration. Blood samples were also taken every other minute for determination of blood lactate concentration by a portable lactate analyzer. RESULTS ANOVA revealed a main effect for time for LAC (p ≤ 0.001) as well as a time by treatment interaction (p ≤ 0.001). Bicarbonate and pH demonstrated main effects for time (p ≤ 0.001) but did not differ between treatments. CONCLUSIONS From these data, it appears that a supplement containing calcium lactate and magnesium lactate caused a differential metabolic response compared to the placebo feeding with respect to blood lactate concentration during incremental exercise. Funding provided by Sport Specifics, Inc. Chagrin Falls, OH