Lactate infusion increases circulating pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in humans.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Controlled human laboratory intervention trial without stated randomization in abstract
PubMed 41063974 · doi:10.3389/fncel.2025.1644843
What was done
Eighteen young, healthy adults (50% female) received a 1-h intravenous infusion of sodium lactate (125 µmol × kg FFM⁻¹ × min⁻¹) or isotonic saline. Blood and muscle tissue samples were gathered before, during, and across 120 min of recovery. Precursor BDNF (pro-BDNF) and mature BDNF (mBDNF) were measured using ELISA and immunoblotting.
What was found
Peak plasma lactate reached 5.9 ± 0.37 mmol × L⁻¹ after lactate infusion (p = 0.0002 vs. pre). Plasma pro-BDNF rose significantly by 15 min post-infusion and remained elevated across recovery (55%–68%, p < 0.0286 vs. saline). Plasma and serum mBDNF levels did not change significantly (p > 0.05 vs. saline). Muscle pro-BDNF was unchanged by infusion (p > 0.05 vs. saline) but correlated with type I muscle fiber area percentage (r = 0.6746, p = 0.0021). Muscle mBDNF was undetectable.
Why it matters
It demonstrates that lactate in isolation increases circulating pro-BDNF without changing mature BDNF levels, helping separate lactate-driven effects from other exercise-induced factors in neuroplasticity signaling.
Limits
Small sample size (n = 18) confined to young, healthy participants. The abstract does not state whether the order of infusions was randomized or blinded. The anatomical source of the circulating pro-BDNF was not established, as skeletal muscle levels were unaffected.
Cited by
- supports High-intensity interval training that causes a burn or lactate accumulation in muscles stimulates the production of BDNF.