Bordoli et al. 2024, Oral lactate supplementation, acid-base balance and prolonged interval cycling

Bordoli C, Varley I, Sharpe GR, Johnson MA, Hennis PJ. “Effects of Oral Lactate Supplementation on Acid–Base Balance and Prolonged High-Intensity Interval Cycling Performance.” Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2024;9(3):139. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9030139.

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 16 trained male cyclists (VO₂max 59 ± 7 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Participants took 120 mg·kg⁻¹ body mass of calcium lactate or placebo 70 minutes before a roughly two-hour protocol of five repeated blocks (moderate cycling, a 1 km time trial, higher-intensity cycling, a 4 km time trial). Lactate raised bicarbonate (p = 0.041) and the strong ion difference (p = 0.026) and lowered rating of perceived exertion (p = 0.012), but did not improve time-trial performance (overall completion time p = 0.320), and it significantly increased gastrointestinal symptoms. The authors note the dose may have been insufficient and call for work on other lactate forms, so the ergogenic case is unproven rather than settled. Weak.