Fermentative anaerobic organisms mostly use the lactic acid fermentation pathway C6H12O6 2 ADP 2 phosphate 2 lactic acid 2 ATPThe energy released in this equation is approximately 150 kJ per mol, which is conserved in regenerating two ATP from ADP per glucose.

In the absence of oxygen, one of the fermentation pathways occurs in order to regenerate NAD lactic acid fermentation is one of these pathways.