Why muscle makes lactate
During intense exercise, muscle converts pyruvate to lactate mainly to:
Answer D: explanation for every choice
A
The lactate dehydrogenase reaction makes no ATP.
B
Lactate dehydrogenase consumes NADH rather than producing it.
C
Pyruvate dehydrogenase converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, in the mitochondria.
D
Correct. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase needs NAD⁺. Lactate dehydrogenase regenerates it when oxygen is limited.
TakeawayFermentation recycles NAD⁺. It does not make extra ATP.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID bb69.