The reduction of pyruvate to lactic acid during fermentation allows glycolysis to continue in the absence of O₂ because this reaction

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The reduction of pyruvate to lactic acid during fermentation allows glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen because it regenerates NAD+. In glycolysis, NAD+ is converted to NADH when glucose is oxidized to pyruvate. If no oxygen is available for oxidative phosphorylation, the supply of NAD+ becomes limited, and glycolysis would stop. However, during fermentation, pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid, oxidizing NADH to NAD+. This allows glycolysis to continue, producing ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation.

The Reduction of Pyruvate to Lactic Acid During Fermentation Allows