| It used to be thought that lactic acid (sometimes called | | | | The result of this is that the muscles can work harder |
| lactate) was a waste product that built up in horses' | | | | and longer. Research has shown that training hard in |
| muscles, causing pain. New research has shown that | | | | short bursts increases the mitochondria mass. The |
| this is not the case. Lactic acid is in fact a fuel, a | | | | result of this is that performance is improved. |
| source of energy. It is used as a fuel by mitochondria, | | | | Thus the old idea that lactate is a waste product of |
| the energy factories in muscle cells. | | | | anaerobic energy metabolism, and that a main cause |
| Think of mitochondria as a power source. The red | | | | of fatigue in racehorses and Standardbreds was due |
| blood cells, liver, kidneys, skeletal muscle and even the | | | | to the build up of lactate, is completely wrong. It is also |
| brain, take up lactate and convert it back to glucose. | | | | incorrect that all racing horses (Thoroughbred, |
| This glucose can then either be used by the cell or | | | | Standardbred, endurance, eventer) are affected by |
| returned to the blood. Lactate can also be efficiently | | | | this to some degree and that the performance of |
| converted to glucose or stored as glycogen by the | | | | racehorses (specifically, Thoroughbreds) is severely |
| liver. | | | | reduced by lactic acid build up. Lactic acid build up does |
| Mitochondria have a special transporter protein to | | | | not cause fatigue or muscle soreness. |
| move lactic acid into them. Intense training can double | | | | Lactic acid is in fact a fuel and not a waste product. |
| the mitochondrial mass. When the mass of muscle | | | | Note that many online articles and even veterinary |
| mitochondria is increased, then more lactate is burned. | | | | websites to date appear unaware of this fact. |