Research Article: D-Lactate: Implications for Gastrointestinal Diseases
Abstract:
D-lactate is produced in very low amounts in human tissues. However, certain bacteria in the human intestine produce D-lactate. In some gastrointestinal diseases, increased bacterial D-lactate production and uptake from the gut into the bloodstream take place. In its extreme, excessive accumulation of D-lactate in humans can lead to potentially life-threatening D-lactic acidosis. This metabolic phenomenon is well described in pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome. Less is known about a subclinical rise in D-lactate. We discuss in this review the pathophysiology of D-lactate in the human body. We cover D-lactic acidosis in patients with short bowel syndrome as well as subclinical elevations of D-lactate in other diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, we argue for the potential of D-lactate as a marker of intestinal barrier integrity in the context of dysbiosis. Subsequently, we conclude that there is a research need to establish D-lactate as a minimally invasive biomarker in gastrointestinal diseases.
Introduction:
L-lactate is a familiar molecule to the human body and is also produced in large amounts in human tissues, depending on metabolic conditions [1,2]. In contrast, D-lactate is produced only in minute quantities in human tissues, and is therefore not detectable in the bloodstream under normal physiological conditions [3]. Certain bacteria in the human gut produce D-lactate as a byproduct of carbohydrate fermentation. Lactate-producing bacteria (LAB) are an example of intestinal bacteria, which can generate both L-…
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