24 SEP 2011 by ideonexus
Lactate, Lactose, and Lactase
Lactate Lactate is a negatively charged molecule formed from a compound called lactic acid. Some bacteria make lactate when they metabolize sugars. Humans also produce lactate as a byproduct of metabolism, though only under certain conditions. Specifically, says Dr. Gary Thibodeau in his book "Anatomy and Physiology," you make lactate when your cells process sugars for energy in the absence of oxygen, such as when you're engaging in a hard sprint or power efforts during exercise. Lact...Lactose and Lactase apparently have no relation to Lactate. Lactose is a sugar in milk, Lactase is an enzyme babies use to digest milk, and Lactate is a byproduct of our muscles expending energy, which is itself a source of energy.