Heikki Savolainen, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
9 March 2012
Dear Editor,
This highly significant study shows that insulin administration can diminish cerebral glucose concentration. This effect may be partially ameliorated by the circumstance that L-Lactate can serve as an alternate energy source (1). Furthermore, lactate concentration in blood may rise with the increased intake of glucose in the cells.
Would it not be interesting to follow the cerebral L-lactate metabolism in patients under critical care?
1 Rinholm JE, Hamilton NB, Kessaris N, et al. Regulation of oligodendrocyte development and myelination by glucose and lactate. J Neurosci 2011; 31: 538-548
Critical Care
Glucose and lactate as brain energy sources
9 March 2012
Dear Editor,
This highly significant study shows that insulin administration can diminish cerebral glucose concentration. This effect may be partially ameliorated by the circumstance that L-Lactate can serve as an alternate energy source (1). Furthermore, lactate concentration in blood may rise with the increased intake of glucose in the cells.
Would it not be interesting to follow the cerebral L-lactate metabolism in patients under critical care?
1 Rinholm JE, Hamilton NB, Kessaris N, et al. Regulation of oligodendrocyte development and myelination by glucose and lactate. J Neurosci 2011; 31: 538-548
Competing interests
None