How do bacteria in the gut use glucose to produce lactic acid?
1 Answer
Oct 19, 2014
Not all bacteria in the gut use glucose to produce lactic acid. Most use glucose to produce ethanol, carbon dioxide and energy.
There are two pathways involved. They depend on if there is any oxygen or not.
If there is a lot of glucose and little oxygen, then Glucose-->pyruvate-->lactic acid + ATP.
If a smaller amount of glucose and no oxygen, then glucose---> ethanol + carbon dioxide + ATP.
