#1

Summary: Researchers have developed a molecule called LaKe that mimics the metabolic effects of strenuous exercise and fasting. This molecule increases lactate and ketone levels in the body, providing similar benefits to running 10 kilometers on an empty stomach, without physical exertion or dietary changes.

Currently being tested in human trials, LaKe shows promise for helping people with limited physical ability maintain health, and may also aid in treating brain conditions like Parkinson’s and dementia.

Original Research: Open access.
“Preparation and Preclinical Characterization of a Simple Ester for Dual Exogenous Supply of Lactate and Beta-hydroxybutyrate” by Thomas Poulsen et al. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

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#2

I gotta get me some of this. ( 20 years living in Texas gave me a more entertaining form of English that would have horrified my mother)

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#3

Always open to “Better Living Through Chemistry.”

“Same effect as a 10 km run on an empty stomach.”
Wow, just wow.

I have been going to the gym for too many decades to remember, and frankly, I am quite tired and bored of it.
If I could replace it with a pill, I would in a heartbeat.

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#4

It’s not the same thing though. Exercise makes you grow stronger muscles. It makes your mitochondria proliferate. It causes inflammation and ROS and the mental side of it improves discipline. The pill would be great for me this time of year, driving truck all daylight hours, but it won’t work like exercise.

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#5

You are right, but for those of us who are regular exercisers, perhaps the 45 minute daily workout when done with this supplement might be equivalent to 60 or 90 minutes of exercising.

And even aside from the exercise, I think there are likely significant benefits from lactate, ketones and BHB.

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#6

I have plenty of muscle; I am happy to just maintain what I have as long as I can avoid sarcopenia.

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#7

I could see this causing ketoacidosis in some people

#8

The Science Behind LaKe

In the study, titled Preparation and Preclinical Characterization of a Simple Ester for Dual Exogenous Supply of Lactate and Beta-hydroxybutyrate , researchers investigated LaKe, a novel molecular hybrid, that promises to deliver a combination of two powerful metabolites—lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) —in one convenient form.

LaKe is an ester composed of (S)-lactate and (R)-1,3-butanediol, a precursor to BHB. Both lactate and BHB naturally increase in response to physiological stresses—lactate during intense exercise and BHB during prolonged fasting or low-carbohydrate diets. While these molecules were once regarded as metabolic byproducts, they are now recognized as crucial fuels and signaling molecules with far-reaching effects on metabolism, brain function, and cellular health.

When administered orally, LaKe is rapidly metabolized. Lactate appears in the bloodstream within minutes, mimicking the natural surge seen during high-intensity exercise (like a 10k). At the same time, BHB levels rise more gradually, paralleling the ketogenic state induced by fasting or ketogenic diets. In vitro and in vivo studies in rats showed that LaKe is quickly metabolized into lactate and BHB. It raises plasma levels of lactate and BHB in a dose-dependent manner. Lactate peaks early (around 30 minutes), while BHB has a slower but sustained increase (up to 8 hours post-administration).

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