An Investigation into the Effects of Sodium Citrate Ingestion on High-Intensity Exercise Performance

Abstract

This study examined the effect of sodium citrate ingestion on high-intensity cycling performance in repeated 45-s bouts. Twelve subjects (9 male and 3 female) ingested either a sodium citrate solution (0.3 g ⋅ kg−1 body mass [BM]) or a placebo 90 min prior to exercise. Postingestion blood HCO3 concentrations were significantly higher in the citrate trial (p < .01), but there was no difference in blood pH between trials. Peak power and total work significantly decreased over the five bouts (p < .05) and postexercise blood lactate concentrations significantly increased over the five bouts (p < 0.01), but there were no differences between trials. We conclude that sodium citrate ingestion (0.3 g ⋅ kg−1 BM) is not an effective ergogenic aid for high-intensity, intermittent exercise as simulated in this protocol.

Effect of Induced Alkalosis on the Power-Duration Relationship of "All-out" Exercise

“…The present findings are in agreement with some previous studies that have reported no ergogenic effect on highintensity exercise performance despite significant preexercise alkalosis (9,30,35,43) but are in contrast with others that have reported performance improvements (4,8,18,21,36,42). These latter studies suggest that high-intensity constantwork-rate exercise (95%-125% V O 2max ) may be continued for longer with induced alkalosis when the high-intensity performance bout is preceded by several shorter bouts at the same high-intensity (8,21) or by prolonged submaximal exercise (40 min at 20%-60% V O 2max (18,36)).…”

“…Only one study (42) has shown improved time to exhaustion during a single constant-work-rate bout lasting È90 s. In contrast, evidence for any tangible ergogenic effects on ''all-out'' exercise performance resulting from preexercise alkalosis is scant. Bishop et al (4) reported a significant 5% increase in total work done during five 6-s sprints separated by 30-s recoveries, whereas others have shown no performance improvement in repeated 30-s (30), 45-s (43), and 60-s all-out exercise bouts (9). The present results extend these findings in showing that preexercise alkalosis does not improve performance in a single all-out exercise bout lasting 3 min.…”

“…Although these data are consistent in indicating enhanced efflux of H + from the active muscle after buffer ingestion, the reported effects of induced alkalosis on ''all-out'' exercise performance have been equivocal and argely limited to sprint durations of 30-60 s (9,43). Whereas some investigations have reported improved performance during a single bout, as well as repeated bouts, of maximal exercise with buffer ingestion (4,8,21,42), others have shown no effect (9,30,43). It has been suggested that a beneficial effect of induced alkalosis on performance requires a sufficient time for the H + gradient between the intramuscular and vascular compartments to develop (32), and therefore, a more pronounced ergogenic effect might be expected for exercise durations greater than È1 min (23,42).…”

“…Higher plasma and muscle pH and higher plasma concentrations of bicarbonate and lactate have been reported after NaHCO 3 and Na-citrate supplementation (9,21,30,35). Although these data are consistent in indicating enhanced efflux of H + from the active muscle after buffer ingestion, the reported effects of induced alkalosis on ''all-out'' exercise performance have been equivocal and argely limited to sprint durations of 30-60 s (9,43). Whereas some investigations have reported improved performance during a single bout, as well as repeated bouts, of maximal exercise with buffer ingestion (4,8,21,42), others have shown no effect (9,30,43).…”

Sodium citrate supplementation: An updated revision and practical recommendations on exercise performance, hydration status, and potential risks

“…This effect is probably due to the presence of three negative charges in the molecule (while bicarbonate ions have only one) which dispose of H + and increase [HCO 3 − ] 57 . This evidence reinforces the hypothesis that timing and dosage of SC ingestion may represent key features to achieve significant functional improvement during exercise and their adequate combination probably lacks when a change in pH is not associated with an ergogenic effect 30,54,58‐63 . In fact, some initial results suggest that to supplement SC at the dose of 0.5 g × kg −1 bw or higher with a timing above 90 minutes is able to improve endurance performance(3 km and 5 km time trials in elite multidisciplinary athletes and well‐trained college runners respectively) in presence of controlled experimental conditions in double‐blind randomized trials 22,45 .…”