Lactic acid
| Lactic acid | |
|---|---|
 
| |
| Chemical name | 2-hydroxypropanoic acid |
| Chemical formula | C3H6O3 |
| Molecular mass | 90.08 g/mol |
| CAS number | [50-21-5] L: [79-33-4] D: [10326-41-7] D/L: [598-82-3] |
| Melting point | L: 53 °C D: 53 °C D/L: 16.8 °C |
| Boiling point | 122 °C @ 12 mmHg |
| SMILES | CC(O)C(=O)O |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Lactic acid (IUPAC systematic name 2-hydroxypropanoic acid), also known as milk acid, is a colorless, water-soluble, liquid organic acid that plays a role in several biochemical processes.
Lactic acid is the bitter-tasting fermentation product of bacteria interacting with lactose (milk sugar) and it is the most common acid constituent of fermented milk products, occurring naturally in sour milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, and buttermilk. Lactic acid is also present in various fruits and wines and earth soil. Lactic acid occurs in the form of its salts (lactates) in muscles and blood during exercise, as a result of the metabolism of glycogen for energy. (Glycogen is the principal storage form of glucose in animal cells).
Human creativity has also been applied to lactic acid, commercially producing lactic acid for flavoring (imparting a tart flavor), preserving foods, and in textile dyeing, leather tanning, producing plastics, and pharmaceuticals. While some of these purposes appeal to human external needs (supporting physical life), some, such as enhancing taste, appeal to the internal desire of humans to experience beauty and pleasure.
Lactic acid is a carboxylic acid—an organic (carbon-containing) acid characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group, which has the formula -C(=O)OH, usually written -COOH or -CO2H. Lactic acid has the chemical formula of C3H6O3.
Overview and chemistry
Lactic acid was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele. It has an hydroxyl (OH) group adjacent to the carboxyl group, making it an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). In solution, it can lose a proton from the acidic group, producing the lactate ion CH3CH(OH)COO−. It is miscible with water or ethanol, and is hygroscopic (ability of a substance to attract water molecules).
Lactic acid is chiral (cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, like the right and left hand of a person) and has two optical isomers. One is known as L-(+)-lactic acid or (S)-lactic acid and the other, its mirror image, is D-(-)-lactic acid or (R)-lactic acid. L-(+)-Lactic acid is the biologically important isomer.
In animals, L-lactate is constantly produced from pyruvate via the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in a process of fermentation during normal metabolism and exercise. It does not increase in concentration until the rate of lactate production exceeds the rate of lactate removal, which is governed by a number of factors including monocarboxylate transporters, concentration and isoform of LDH, and oxidative capacity of tissues. The concentration of blood lactate is usually one to two mmol/L at rest, but can rise to over 20 mmol/L during intense exertion.
Lactic acid fermentation is also performed by Lactobacillus bacteria. These convert lactose and other sugars to lactic acid. They are common and usually benign. In humans, they are present in the vagina and the gastrointestinal tract, where they are symbiotic and make up a small portion of the gut flora. Many species are prominent in decaying plant material. The production of lactic acid makes its environment acidic, which inhibits the growth of some harmful bacteria. Some Lactobacillus species are used industrially for the production of yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles, beer, wine, cider, kimchi, and other fermented foods, as well as animal feeds, Although considered beneficial, these bacteria also can operate in the mouth; the acid they produce is responsible for the tooth decay known as caries.
In medicine, lactate is one of the main components of Ringer's lactate or lactated Ringer's solution. This intravenous fluid consists of sodium and potassium cations, with lactate and chloride anions, in solution with distilled water in concentration so as to be isotonic compared to human blood. It is most commonly used for fluid resuscitation after blood loss due to trauma, surgery or a burn injury.
Exercise and lactate
During intense exercise, such as sprinting, when the rate of demand for energy is high, lactate is produced faster than the ability of the tissues to remove it and lactate concentration begins to rise. This is a beneficial process since the regeneration of NAD+ ensures that energy production is maintained and exercise can continue.
The increased lactate produced can be removed in a number of ways, including oxidation to pyruvate by well-oxygenated muscle cells, which is then directly used to fuel the citric acid cycle; and by conversion to glucose via the Cori cycle in the liver through the process of gluconeogenesis.
Contrary to popular belief, the increased concentration of lactate due to intense exercise does not directly cause acidosis (increased acidity of blood plasma), nor is it responsible for delayed onset muscle soreness (Robergs et al. 2004). This is because lactate itself is not capable of releasing a proton, and secondly, the acidic form of lactate, lactic acid, cannot be formed under normal circumstances in human tissues. Analysis of the glycolytic pathway in humans indicates that there are not enough hydrogen ions present in the glycolytic intermediates to produce lactic or any other acid.
The acidosis that is associated with increases in lactate concentration during heavy exercise arises from a separate reaction. When ATP is hydrolysed, a hydrogen ion is released. ATP-derived hydrogen ions are primarily responsible for the decrease in pH. During intense exercise, aerobic metabolism cannot produce ATP quickly enough to supply the demands of the muscle. As a result, anaerobic metabolism becomes the dominant energy producing pathway as it can form ATP at high rates. Due to the large amounts of ATP being produced and hydrolysed in a short period of time, the buffering systems of the tissues are overcome, causing pH to fall and creating a state of acidosis. This may be one factor, among many, that contributes to the acute muscular discomfort experienced shortly after intense exercise.
Lactic acid in food
Lactic acid is primarily found in sour milk products, such as koumiss, leban, yogurt, kefir, and some cottage cheeses. The casein in fermented milk is coagulated (curdled) by lactic acid.
Although it can be fermented from lactose (milk sugar), most commercially used lactic acid is derived by using bacteria such as Bacillus acidilacti, Lactobacillus delbueckii or Lactobacillus bulgaricus to ferment carbohydrates from nondairy sources such as cornstarch, potatoes and molasses. Thus, although it is commonly known as "milk acid," products claiming to be vegan (strict vegetarianism or pure vegetarianism) do sometimes feature lactic acid as an ingredient.
Lactic acid may also be found in various processed foods, usually either as a pH adjusting ingredient, or as a preservative (either as antioxidant or for control of pathogenic micro-organisms).
Lactic acid as a polymer precursor
Two molecules of lactic acid can be dehydrated to lactide, a cyclic lactone. A variety of catalysts can polymerise lactide to either heterotactic or syndiotactic polylactide, which as biodegradable polyesters with valuable (inter alia) medical properties are currently attracting much attention.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Bosch, A. 2007. Lactic acid and running: myths, legends and reality. Time-to-run. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
- Robergs, R., F. Ghiasvand, and D. Parker. 2004. Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 287(3): R502-16. PMID 15308499. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
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