Lactate is preferred over glucose, amino acids, and ketones for uptake by muscle membrane vesicles because it fits the transporter configuration better.

“We realized that lactate transporters also transport ketones and pyruvate as well as lactate. So, we can come up with formulations and mixtures of these things which are transportable and can be used. And in our conversation we had with Dr. Ames just the other day, you know about the ketogenic diets and the management of conditions in pediatrics. So, they come also in by these same transporters. And the thing about it, and once you realize that there are transporters and understand how they perform, they're saturatable.”