Relationship of blood and saliva lactate and pyruvate concentrations.

Lactate and pyruvate concentrations of blood and saliva were investigated in nine healthy young men before and after maximal exercise. Lactate and pyruvate concentrations in saliva and blood were found to be unrealted. Interpretation favored salivary gland anaerobic metabolism as the origin of salivary lactate, but the large difference of 80 mg per 100 ml between blood and saliva found after 12 min of recovery may represent a threshold value and leaves unanswered the question on the origin of lactate in saliva. Multiple sampling following the recovery period for a longer time may change the present interpretation.