BLOOD LACTATE BEHAVIOR AS A PERFORMANCE INDICATOR IN 400-METER SPRINTERS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW WITH PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Abstract

The 400-meter sprint is one of the most complex events in athletics because it requires high speed, fatigue resistance, and integration between anaerobic and aerobic energy systems, with an important contribution from anaerobic glycolysis. In this context, blood lactate is a relevant physiological marker for understanding exercise intensity, fatigue tolerance, and training-induced adaptations. This study aimed to analyze blood lactate behavior as a performance indicator in male 400-meter sprinters, emphasizing its applicability in monitoring and controlling sports training. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive-analytical approach, structured through a systematized search in scientific databases and complementary sources. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and SciELO were searched, complemented by Google Scholar and manual reference searches, including studies published up to March 2026. The findings indicate that athletes at higher competitive levels tend to present greater glycolytic capacity, higher tolerance to lactate accumulation, and better speed maintenance, especially in the final phase of the race. In addition, contemporary literature indicates that lactate should not be interpreted only as a byproduct associated with fatigue, but also as an energy substrate and marker of physiological responses to exercise. It is concluded that blood lactate may support physiological monitoring, training load control, and individualized training in 400-meter sprinters, although further studies with standardized protocols and greater methodological rigor are needed.