Post-exercise blood lactate concentration has often been used as an indicator of energy metabolism during short-term high-intensity exercise. Some studies have suggested that this parameter is not always reliable, so Takei et al conducted this study based in the hypothesis that that the rate of increase in post-exercise blood lactate concentration (RIBLC) could be a new indicator for energy metabolism correlating with performance of short-term high-intensity exercise.

To carry out this study, the authors recruited a total of 22 male university track athletes who were then divided into two groups: 14 of them went into the sprinter group (competing in 400m events) and the other 8 were classified in the long-distance runner group (competing in 800m and 1500m events).

All participants had their blood lactate concentrations measured using the Lactate Pro 2 handheld lactate analyser. Blood samples were taken from the earlobe of all participants 1 minute before the event and also at certain time intervals after the event (.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 mins).  After the trials, the participants were asked to rest in the sitting position before having another blood sample taken.

According to the authors of this study, peak blood lactate concentration was not correlated with the average running velocity of a 400-m time trial. The results show that peak blood lactate concentration might not be a reliable indicator for energy metabolism during short-term high intensity exercise.

In contrast, the increase in post-exercise blood lactate concentration was significantly correlated with the average running velocity of a 400-m trial, and could be a new indicator for the ability of energy metabolism during short-term high-intensity exercise.

This study was carried out by Naoya Takei , Kenya Takahashi , Katsuyuki Kakinoki and Hideo Hatta, and it was publishedin 2018 by The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness (J Phys Fitness Sports Med, 7 (5): 253-259)

Please click here to access the original article: