Lactate Unit Converter

Lactate (also called lactic acid) is a substance produced when your body breaks down glucose for energy without using oxygen. This process, called anaerobic metabolism, occurs primarily in your muscles and red blood cells.

Normally, your liver and kidneys efficiently clear lactate from your blood and convert it back to glucose through a process called the Cori cycle. At rest, blood lactate levels stay low (typically 0.5–2.0 mmol/L), but they can rise significantly during intense exercise or illness.

When lactate production exceeds the body's ability to clear it, levels rise. This can indicate that tissues are not getting enough oxygen or that there is a problem with how your body processes lactate.

Lactate is produced by nearly all tissues, with the highest production occurring in skeletal muscle, red blood cells, brain, and intestines. The liver clears approximately 70% of blood lactate, with the kidneys and skeletal muscle handling the remainder.