Quote Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Salty View Post
I think you've got the lactate shuttle a little wrong mate, the way I understood it worked was...
  1. Pyruvate (pyruvic acid) is formed when glycogen and glucose are being broken down at high rates in your muscles (called glycolysis which is the conversion of these into pyruvate). Pyruvate is then converted to Lactate (lactic acid) as it increases in the muscles.
  2. Lactate is now formed and transported away from the muscle cells into surrounding tissue and blood. This allows glycolysis to persist and thus continuing the supply of energy to our muscles.
  3. The muscle cells which the lactate is transported to can cause the lactate to be broken down to fuel (mainly ATP) or can be used to build glycogen.
Everything Ive read says its Hydrogen,but keep in mind,those findings were only published a couple of years ago
You are right, although the definition of an acid is that it is a H+ donator. The strength of an acid is how easily it gives up a H+ ion, the stronger they are the more ions they give up. I think what you have read may be in regards to muscle failure where there is a drop in pH? Although I have read articles which say where the lactate is distributed depends on the concentration of the H+ however can't really remember too much.