Why is Lactic Acid important?

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Why is Lactic Acid important?

Lactic acid is a chemical compound that is essential in most biochemical processes. Also labeled as milk acid, lactic acid was discovered by a Swedish chemist named Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1780. Having a chemical formula of C3H6O3, the presence of carbon and hydrogen groups makes the compound acid since the compound has the ability to lose a proton, thereby making lactate acid in nature. In most industrial firms, the Lactobacillus bacteria are responsible for lactic acid fermentation. Despite the production of usable energy, the bacteria can negatively lodge in the mouth that can cause dental caries. In the field of medicine, lactate is widely used as part of intravenous fluids such as lactated Ringer’s and Hermann’s solution.
Aside from the use of lactic acid in various fields, lactic acid is an important component that is utilized by the body. During periods of exercise, the process of glycolysis hastens to meet the demands of the body in supplying adequate amounts of energy. This is made possible when large amount of pyruvic acid is converted successfully into lactic acid. Most of the lactic acid being produced is coming from the muscles but as muscles produce lactic acid, they are the ones that utilize such compound as well. This is the primary mechanism that greatly involves the lactic acid compound since it provides specific amounts of oxygen and energy for the body sustain the level of exercise one engages into. When the body is able to comply with the demands, the excess amounts of lactic acid is converted to glycogen to further produce energy.
For many people, they assume that the cause of muscle strains and fatigue are attributed to the production of lactic acid. However, studies have shown that lactic acid, instead functions to allay fatigue.

Author: plaza

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