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During anaerobic glycolysis, the main by-product produced is lactic acid. This metabolic pathway occurs in the absence of sufficient oxygen when glucose is broken down for energy. The process involves the conversion of glucose into pyruvate through glycolysis. However, when there is not enough oxygen available to fully oxidize pyruvate via the aerobic pathway, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid.
The production of lactic acid is significant because it allows glycolysis to continue by regenerating NAD+, which is essential for maintaining energy production in muscle cells during intense exercise or in situations where oxygen levels are low. Understanding lactic acid's role helps clarify why exercising muscles can feel fatigued and experience a burning sensation during prolonged high-intensity activity.
Other by-products like carbon dioxide do not primarily stem from anaerobic glycolysis nor are they produced in significant amounts until the aerobic pathways are utilized. Glucose is the substrate consumed in the process rather than a by-product, and pyruvate is an intermediate that, under aerobic conditions, would further enter the Krebs cycle instead of being converted to lactic acid. Thus, lactic acid stands out as the primary by-product during anaerobic glycolysis.