Lactic Acid, Urine Unit Converter

Urinary lactic acid measures the amount of lactate excreted in your urine. Lactate is produced when your cells break down glucose for energy without using oxygen, a process called anaerobic metabolism.

There are two forms of lactic acid: L-lactate (the main form produced by human cells) and D-lactate (primarily produced by bacteria in the gut). Standard tests usually measure total lactate or L-lactate specifically, while D-lactate requires a separate test.

Urinary lactate levels correlate with blood lactate levels and can reflect how well your body is producing and clearing lactate. The kidneys normally reabsorb most lactate, so elevated urinary levels often indicate that blood levels have exceeded the kidney's reabsorption capacity.

L-lactate is produced primarily in muscle cells and red blood cells during anaerobic metabolism. The liver and kidneys normally convert lactate back to glucose or use it for energy. D-lactate is produced mainly by bacteria in the colon when carbohydrates are not fully absorbed in the small intestine.