Delayed Rebound of Glycemia During Recovery Following Short-Duration High-Intensity Exercise: Are There Lactate and Glucose Metabolism Interactions?

Lactate constitutes the primary gluconeogenic precursor in healthy humans at rest and during low-intensity exercise. Data on the interactions between lactate and glucose metabolisms during recovery after short-duration high-intensity exercise are sparse. The aim of the present study was to describe blood glucose ([glucose](b)) and lactate ([lactate](b)) concentration curves during recovery following short-duration high-intensity exercise. Fifteen healthy Cameroonian subjects took part in the study and performed successively (i) an incremental exercise to exhaustion to determine maximal work rate (P-max) and (ii) a 2-min 110% P-max exercise after which blood lactate and glucose concentrations were measured during the 80-min passive recovery. In response to the 2-min 110% P-max exercise, [glucose](b) remained stable (from 4.93 +/- 1.13 to 4.65 +/- 0.74 mmol(.)L(-1), NS) while [lactate](b) increased (from 1.35 +/- 0.36 to 7.87 +/- 1.66 mmol(.)L(-1), p < 0.0001). During recovery, blood lactate concentrations displayed the classic biphasic curve while blood glucose concentrations displayed a singular shape including a delayed and transitory rebound of glycemia. This rebound began at 27.7 +/- 6.2 min and peaked at 6.78 +/- 0.53 mmol(.)L(-1) at 56.3 +/- 9.7 min into recovery. The area under the curve (AUC) of [lactate](b) during the rebound of glycemia was positively correlated with the peak value of glycemia and the AUC of [glucose](b) during the rebound. In conclusion, the delayed rebound of glycemia observed in the present study was associated with lactate availability during this period.

Automated summary

The study found that blood glucose levels remained stable during recovery after short-duration high-intensity exercise, while blood lactate levels displayed a classic biphasic curve. Additionally, the delayed and transitory rebound of glycemia was associated with lactate availability during this period.