Lactate infusion during euglycemia but not hypoglycemia reduces subsequent food intake in healthy men

Considering that lactate is known to interact with central glucose-sensing networks, we tested whether hyperlactatemia affects food intake in humans. According to a balanced within-subject 2 × 2 design, 12 healthy, fasted men (age: 20–40 years; BMI: 20–26 kg/m2) were intravenously infused lactate and saline, respectively, for 105 min during concomitant euglycemic and hypoglycemic, respectively, insulin infusion of 75 min. Ten minutes after the simultaneous end of infusions, free-choice food intake was assessed at 10:25 h. Lactate decreased food intake following euglycemia as compared to the other three conditions in which food intake did not differ. Results point to an anorexigenic effect of lactate under euglycemic conditions.