Clarifying the Link Between the Blood Lactate Concentration and Cardiovascular Risk

The blood lactate value at rest (Lac (rest) ) is linked to cardiovascular outcomes. It is unclear whether this association holds true in younger, healthy subjects, especially as the pathophysiological connection between Lac (rest) and cardiometabolic disease is not well understood. The aim of this study is clarifying the link between Lac (rest) and cardiovascular risk, and to study explanatory factors for the variance of Lac (rest) concerning metabolism and physical activity in a population of healthy patient-athletes. The distribution and intra-individual variability of Lac (rest) was assessed based on 9051 samples. The 10-year cardiovascular risk was then approximated using the Framingham risk score in a group of 1315 samples from patient-athletes. Cross-validated linear regression was used to analyze explanatory variables for Lac (rest) and 10-year cardiovascular risk. Lac (rest) is weakly associated with the Framingham score. This association disappears when adjusting for blood lipids. Lac (rest) is also linked to the predominant type of exercise with endurance athletes featuring a higher Lac (rest.) Lac (rest) does not independently predict the estimated cardiovascular risk but is associated with lipid parameters. Moreover, the intra-individual variability of Lac (rest) is high in a relevant number of subjects, which does not point towards the feasibility to use Lac (rest) as an individual risk factor.