[Acid-base balance during exercise]

Abstract

The required energy may be produced almost exclusively by aerobic processes during light exercise. Anaerobic energy-yielding metabolic processes however, play a greater role as the severity of the exercise increases. This process produces endoproducts, such as lactate, which are related to acid-base regulation. During exhaustive exercise, large amounts of lactate accumulate in both muscle and blood, and the corresponding accumulation of proton ions produces metabolic acidosis. Three mechanisms control the acid-base quality of the internal environment; intramuscle buffers, blood buffers and physiologic buffers. In healthy male, the change in blood pH after heavy exercise is one which is expected in conditions of metabolic acidosis, and this change is consistently related to the lactate content. Finally, the effect of exercise on acid-base status in patients with several conditions is discussed.