Lactate as a myokine and exerkine: drivers and signals of physiology and metabolism Digest

Evidence demonstrates that lactate, once considered a metabolic waste product, participates in diverse roles in metabolism, sensing, and signaling under normal and pathological conditions. Its functions range from influencing muscle adaptation and heart fueling during exercise to moderating insulin release, carcinogenesis, and various aspects of health, including neurobiology and nutrition. This review describes the multiple roles of lactate in human physiology.