Does Sodium Citrate Cause the Same Ergogenic Effect as Sodium Bicarbonate on Swimming Performance?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ingesting sodium bicarbonate (SB) and sodium citrate (SC) on 400 m high-intensity swimming performance and blood responses. Six nationally ranked male swimmers (20.7 ± 2.1 yrs; 184 ± 6 cm; 79.9 ± 3.9 kg; 10.6 ± 1% body fat) participated in a double blinded, placebo controlled crossover trial. Ninety minutes after consuming SB (0.3 g·kg-1), SC (0.3 g·kg-1) or a placebo (PL) participants completed a single 400-m freestyle maximal test on three consecutive days. The order of the supplementation was randomized. Capillary blood samples were collected on 4 occasions: at rest (baseline), 60 min post-ingestion, immediately post-trial and 15 min post-trial. Blood pH, HCO3- concentration and base excess (BE) were determined. Blood pH, HCO3-, BE were significantly elevated from before loading to the pre-test (60 min post-ingestion) (p < 0.05) after SB ingestion, but not after SC ingestion (p > 0.05). Performance times were improved by 0.6% (p > 0.05) after supplementation of SB over PL in 5 out of 6 participants (responders). In contrast, ingestion of SC decreased performance by 0.2% (p > 0.05). No side effects were observed in either trial. Delayed blood response was observed after SC ingestion compared to SB and this provided no or modest ergogenic effect, respectively, for single bout high-intensity swimming exercise. Monitoring the magnitude of the time-to-peak level rise in alkalosis may be recommended in order to individualize the loading time accordingly before commencement of exercise.

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 .…”

Ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on swimming performance: a meta-analysis

“…In the primary search, there was a total of 221 results; 204 results were excluded after reading the title or abstract (Figure 1). After reading 17 full-text papers, nine studies were found that satisfied the inclusion criteria (Campos et al, 2012;de Salles Painelli et al, 2013;Joyce et al, 2012;Kumstát et al, 2018;Lindh et al, 2008;Mero et al, 2013;Pierce et al, 1992;Pruscino et al, 2008;Yong et al, 2018). There was an additional 818 search results in the secondary search, but there were no additional studies that met the inclusion criteria.…”

“…L -1 . In four of these studies, the SMD was towards the "favors sodium bicarbonate" side of the forest plot, and the 95% CIs of these studies overlapped (Joyce et al, 2012;Kumstát et al, 2018;Lindh et al, 2008;Pruscino et al, 2008).…”

“…Even though sodium bicarbonate supplementation is commonly recommended for swimmers, there is no consensus regarding its ergogenic effects on swimming performance (Domínguez et al, 2017;Mujika, Stellingwerff, & Tipton, 2014). Several studies explored the effects of sodium bicarbonate on swimming performance, but the results reported in primary studies are conflicting (Campos et al, 2012;de Salles Painelli et al, 2013;Joyce, Minahan, Anderson, & Osborne, 2012;Kumstát, Hlinský, Struhár, & Thomas, 2018;Lindh, Peyrebrune, Ingham, Bailey, & Folland, 2008;Mero et al, 2013;Pierce, Eastman, Hammer, & Lynn, 1992;Pruscino, Ross, Gregory, Savage, & Flanagan, 2008;Yong, Yin, & Hoe, 2018). For example, in one study that involved nine elite-level swimmers, sodium bicarbonate ingestion improved 200-m freestyle swimming performance by 1.8 seconds (Lindh et al, 2018).…”

Effects of Pyruvate Supplementation on High-intensity Interval Exercise Induced Metabolic Acidosis and Repeated Sprint Exercise Performance of College Soccer Athletes

“…Typical alkaline buffers can attenuate extracellular acidosis by acting as a physical and chemical buffer 18,19,20 . Pyruvate, on the other hand, can be transferred into cells as an intracellular buffer to attenuate metabolic acidosis 21 .…”