Mastering Nutrition

D-Lactate: Groundbreaking Research No One Is Talking About


Listen Later

D-lactate is commonly stated to be exclusively a microbial metabolite. 

This is found in assumptions within the medical literature for decades even when it was long-known to be false. 

While D-lactate is indeed made by bacteria, D-lactate is also inarguably and irrefutably produced by human enzymes.

In this podcast, moreover, I will argue the following:

Microbial contribution to D-lactate in humans under normal circumstances is negligible. 

I coin the term “the D-lactate shuttle” to describe a role for D-lactate that should eventually make its way into biochemistry textbooks alongside the malate-aspartate shuttle and the glycerol phosphate shuttle.

The D-lactate shuttle operates alongside these other shuttles to balance the priorities of conserving cytosolic NAD+, reducing cytosolic acidity, bypassing complex I, or generating ATP. It is uniquely useful as a shuttle when there is an absolute deficit of niacin or NAD(H).

D-lactate is an important contributor to gluconeogenesis that could account for up to 11% of it and rival an individual amino acid.

While D-lactate concentrations in human plasma are infinitesimal, when the downstream metabolism of D-lactate and L-lactate are blocked by genetic disorders, the concentrations of the two forms are similar in plasma. This contrasts wildly with the common claim that flux through D-lactate is “minuscule.” Most likely D-lactate is produced in considerable quantities in liver and kidney but is rarely secreted into plasma because doing so would risk neurotoxicity.

D-lactate should be taken seriously for its potential role in Parkinson’s and in neurological problems generally, for its role in diabetes, and for its extremely underappreciated roles in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the respiratory chain.

Oxalate powerfully impairs D-lactate clearance, so D-lactate should be investigated as a potential link between oxalate and autism, and oxalate-lowering strategies should be seen as a way to improve D-lactate clearance and reduce its potential role in diabetes and neurological disorders.

See the sections on riboflavin, zinc manganese, and glutathione in Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet, as well as Does CoQ10 Deserve a Spot on Your Longevity Plan? and the How to Detox Manganese guide for managing the relevant nutrients.

Read the written version for live links and references: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/d-lactate-groundbreaking-research

View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Mastering NutritionBy Chris Masterjohn, PhD

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

411 ratings


More shows like Mastering Nutrition

View all
Boundless Life by Ben Greenfield

Boundless Life

5,008 Listeners

Revolution Health Radio by Chris Kresser

Revolution Health Radio

1,587 Listeners

The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey by Dave Asprey

The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey

7,150 Listeners

High Intensity Health with Mike Mutzel, MS by Author Mike Mutzel interviews Jeff Bland, Datis Kharrazian, Ben Greenfield, Abel James, Dave Asprey, Ben Lynch, Jade Teta and Corey chuler

High Intensity Health with Mike Mutzel, MS

1,222 Listeners

Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare by Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare

778 Listeners

The Energy Blueprint Podcast by Ari Whitten

The Energy Blueprint Podcast

727 Listeners

The Genius Life by Max Lugavere

The Genius Life

4,818 Listeners

Dhru Purohit Show by Dhru Purohit

Dhru Purohit Show

3,462 Listeners

The Dr. Hyman Show by Dr. Mark Hyman

The Dr. Hyman Show

9,167 Listeners

Paul Saladino MD podcast by Paul Saladino, MD

Paul Saladino MD podcast

2,563 Listeners

Metabolic Freedom With Ben Azadi by Ben Azadi

Metabolic Freedom With Ben Azadi

994 Listeners

The Healthy Rebellion Radio by Robb Wolf

The Healthy Rebellion Radio

769 Listeners

The Thyroid Fixer by Dr. Amie Hornaman

The Thyroid Fixer

489 Listeners

The Red Light Report by Dr. Mike Belkowski

The Red Light Report

112 Listeners

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show

1,088 Listeners