Effect of lactate supplementation on V̇O2peak and onset of blood lactate accumulation: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Professional and recreational athletes use ergogenic aids to enhance aerobic performance, facilitate training adaptations, and reduce recovery time. While the ergogenic effect of commonly marketed and commercially available ergogenic aids (i.e., sodium bicarbonate and β-alanine) have been investigated extensively, the effectiveness of lactate supplementation on aerobic capacity markers (i.e., VO2peak and the onset blood lactate accumulation) has not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lactate supplementation on VO2peak and the onset blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). Methods: Eighteen healthy individuals (14 men and 4 women, age: 24 ± 5 years, height: 171 ± 7 cm, body mass: 76 ± 17 kg) participated in a double-blind-placebo-controlled study and were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: placebo (PLA, n = 8), or supplement (SUP, n = 10) consisting of a combination of magnesium lactate dihydrate and calcium lactate monohydrate. Prior to and following supplementation, participants performed a cycling graded exercise test to determine VO2peak, time to exhaustion, power output, VO2 and % VO2peak associated with OBLA. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between PLA and SUP in direct markers of aerobic capacity (all p > .05). Heart rate at OBLA was reduced by 6 ± 6% in the PLA group post-supplementation compared to pre-supplementation (p = .03).Conclusions: Lactate supplementation did not present an advantage over a placebo in improving aerobic capacity. The results from this study support those by previous investigators suggesting that there is no physiological rationale for using lactate supplementation to improve aerobic capacity and/or performance.