Sodium bicarbonate can be used as an ergogenic aid in high-intensity, competitive cycle ergometry of 1 h duration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether a dose of 300-mg x kg(-1) body mass of sodium bicarbonate would effect a high-intensity, 1-h maximal cycle ergometer effort. Ten male, well-trained [maximum oxygen consumption 67.3 (3.3) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), mean (SD)] volunteer cyclists acted as subjects. Each undertook either a control (C), placebo (P), or experimental (E) ride in a random, double-blind fashion on a modified, air-braked cycle ergometer, attached to a personal computer to which the work and power data was downloaded at 10 Hz. Fingertip blood was sampled at 10-min intervals throughout the exercise. Blood was also sampled at 1, 3, 5, and 10 min post-exercise. Blood was analysed for lactate, partial pressure of Carbon dioxide and oxygen, pH and plasma bicarbonate (HCO-) concentration. Randomly chosen pairs of subjects were asked to complete as much work as possible during the 60-min exercise periods in an openly competitive situation. The sodium bicarbonate had the desired effect of increasing blood HCO3- prior to the start of the test. The subjects in E completed 950.9 (81.1) kJ of work, which was significantly more (F(2,27) = 5.28, P < 0.01) than during either the C [835.5 (100.2) kJ] or P [839.0 (88.6) kJ] trials. No differences were seen in peak power or in the power:mass ratio between these three groups. The results of this study suggest that sodium bicarbonate may be used to offset the fatigue process during high-intensity, aerobic cycling lasting 60 min.

Sodium bicarbonate ingestion and individual variability in time-to-peak pH

“…Neither is it possible to predict maximum pH values on the basis of body weight. As has been seen previously 20,21,44 , responses to the same dose of are varied with respect to changes in pH even when resting pH values are almost identical.…”

“…This suggests that when used as an ergogenic aid to improve sprint performance, in studies that have either used 60 min after ingestion 23,35 or 90 min post ingestion 20,21,44 , the time lag is probably too short (60 min) or too long respectively. This is supported by the fact that the mean time to peak pH, across all participants is 65.0±18.4 min, confirming that an exercise time of 60-90 min post ingestion is either too short, or too long respectively.…”

Sodium Bicarbonate—A Potent Ergogenic Aid?

“…Studies by McNaughton et al [14] have also found that sodium bicarbonate can be used as an ergogenic aid to offset the fatigue process in high-intensity, competitive cycle ergometry of 1 hour duration.…”

Säure-Basen-Haushalt und Ernährung. Physiologische Grundlagen und klinische Aspekte

“…Daneben lässt sich bei Wettkampfs p o rt l e rn in bestimmten Disziplinen d u r ch Alkalisierung eine Steigerung der Leistungsfähigkeit erreichen [10,11].…”