Sodium lactate is primarily indicated as a source of bicarbonate for prevention or control of mild to moderate metabolic acidosis in patients with restricted oral intake whose oxidative processes are not seriously impaired. Sodium Lactate is most commonly associated with an E number of “E325” Sodium Lactate blends are commonly used in meat and poultry products to extend shelf life and increase food safety. They have a broad antimicrobial action and are effective at inhibiting most spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. In addition sodium lactate is used in cosmetics as a humectant, providing moisture.

Lactic acid, D- is a natural optical isomer of lactic acid. It is a poorly utilized isomer – 30 to 40% of the dose ingested is excreted in the urine. Lactic acid, D- is known to be harmful to human metabolism and it can result in acidosis and decalcification. D-lactic acidosis, also referred as D-lactate encephalopathy, has been reported in patients with short bowl syndrome. Lactic acid, D- is an interesting precursor for manufacturing heat-resistant polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics which can be widely used, for example as packaging material, coatings, for textiles or in the automotive industry.

Lactic Acid, L- (L-lactic acid, L-lactate) is the levorotatory isomer of lactic acid, the biologically active isoform in humans. Lactic acid or lactate is produced during fermentation from pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase. Lactate dehydrogenase is isomer-specific so that production and metabolism of D-lactate require D-LDH and L-lactate requires L-LDH. Mammalian cells only contain L-LDH so that in humans the lactate produced is almost exclusively L-lactate. Carbohydrate-fermenting bacterial species (e.g. lactobacillus spp) have by contrast both enzymes and therefore the capacity to produce both D-lactate and L-lactate. L-lactic acid is the primary agonist of hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCA1), which is a Gi/o-coupled G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Poly-L-lactic acid is an absorbable, semi-permanent, injectable implant that can be used to restore volume and stimulate collagen formation gradually. It is FDA-approved for the correction of facial fat loss associated with antiretroviral therapy-induced lipoatrophy in HIV patients. It is FDA-approved for use in immunocompetent people for the correction of nasolabial fold deficiencies and other facial wrinkles. It has been used off-label to enhance the cheeks, hands, neck, thighs, gluteal enhancement and chest wall deformities, such as pectus excavatum or thoracic deformities secondary to surgical procedures.