Effects of post-exercise sodium bicarbonate ingestion on acid-base balance recovery and time-to-exhaustion running performance: a randomised crossover trial in recreational athletes

William Gurton*, Heather Macrae, Lewis Gough, David G. King

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of post-exercise sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) ingestion on acid-base balance recovery and time-to-exhaustion (TTE) running performance. Eleven male runners (stature, 1.80 6 0.05 m; body mass, 74.4 6 6.5 kg; maximal oxygen consumption, 51.7 6 5.4 mL·kg1·min 1 ) participated in this randomised, single-blind, counterbalanced and crossover design study. Maximal running velocity (v-V_ O2max ) was identified from a graded exercise test. During experimental trials, participants repeated 100% v-V_ O2max TTE protocols (TTE1, TTE2) separated by 40 min following the ingestion of either 0.3 g·kg1 body mass NaHCO3 (SB) or 0.03 g·kg1 body mass sodium chloride (PLA) at the start of TTE1 recovery. Acid-base balance (blood pH and bicarbonate, HCO3 ) data were studied at baseline, post-TTE1, after 35 min recovery and post-TTE2. Blood pH and HCO3 concentration were unchanged at 35 min recovery (p > 0.05), but HCO3 concentration was elevated post-TTE2 for SB vs. PLA (+2.6 mmol·L1; p = 0.005; g = 0.99). No significant differences were observed for TTE2 performance (p > 0.05), although a moderate effect size was present for SB vs. PLA (+14.3 s; g = 0.56). Post-exercise NaHCO3 ingestion is not an effective strategy for accelerating the restoration of acid-base balance or improving subsequent TTE performance when limited recovery is available.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1111-1118
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume46
Issue number9
Early online date17 Mar 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

Keywords

  • Alkalosis
  • Buffering
  • Ergogenic aid
  • Exercise capacity
  • Glycolytic activation
  • Nutrition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Physiology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of post-exercise sodium bicarbonate ingestion on acid-base balance recovery and time-to-exhaustion running performance: a randomised crossover trial in recreational athletes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this