Sodium bicarbonate intake improves high-intensity intermittent exercise performance in trained young men - PubMed (original) (raw)

Randomized Controlled Trial

Sodium bicarbonate intake improves high-intensity intermittent exercise performance in trained young men

Peter Krustrup et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015.

Abstract

Background: Sodium bicarbonate intake has been shown to improve exercise tolerance, but the effects on high-intensity intermittent exercise are less clear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of sodium bicarbonate intake on Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 2 performance in trained young men.

Method: Thirteen men aged 23 ± 1 year (height: 180 ± 2 cm, weight: 78 ± 3 kg; VO2max: 61.3 ± 3.3 mlO2 · kg(-1) · min(-1); means ± SEM) performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) on two separate occasions in randomized order with (SBC) and without (CON) prior intake of sodium bicarbonate (0.4 g · kg(-1) body weight). Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the test and venous blood samples were taken frequently.

Results: Yo-Yo IR2 performance was 14 % higher (P = 0.04) in SBC than in CON (735 ± 61 vs 646 ± 46 m, respectively). Blood pH and bicarbonate were similar between trials at baseline, but higher (P = 0.003) immediately prior to the Yo-Yo IR2 test in SBC than in CON (7.44 ± 0.01 vs 7.32 ± 0.01 and 33.7 ± 3.2 vs 27.3 ± 0.6 mmol · l(-1), respectively). Blood lactate was 0.9 ± 0.1 and 0.8 ± 0.1 mmol · l(-1) at baseline and increased to 11.3 ± 1.4 and 9.4 ± 0.8 mmol · l(-1) at exhaustion in SBC and CON, respectively, being higher (P = 0.03) in SBC. Additionally, peak blood lactate was higher (P = 0.02) in SBC than in CON (11.7 ± 1.2 vs 10.2 ± 0.7 mmol · l(-1)). Blood glucose, plasma K(+) and Na(+) were not different between trials. Peak heart rate reached at exhaustion was 197 ± 3 and 195 ± 3 bpm in SBC and CON, respectively, with no difference between conditions. RPE was 7% lower (P = 0.003) in SBC than in CON after 440 m, but similar at exhaustion (19.3 ± 0.2 and 19.5 ± 0.2).

Conclusion: In conclusion, high-intensity intermittent exercise performance is improved by prior intake of sodium bicarbonate in trained young men, with concomitant elevations in blood alkalosis and peak blood lactate levels, as well as lowered rating of perceived exertion.

Keywords: Blood pH and lactate; Buffer capacity; Fatigue; Plasma potassium; Yo-Yo IR2 performance.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) performance of trained young men (n = 13) on two separate occasions in randomized order with (SBC) and without (CON) prior intake of 0.4 g · kg−1 body weight sodium bicarbonate. Individual data and mean data are presented. *: Denotes significant difference between SBC and CON

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

Blood pH (a) and blood bicarbonate (b) at baseline and immediately before and after the Yo-Yo IR2 test for trained young men (n = 13) on two separate occasions in randomized order with (SBC) and without (CON) prior intake of 0.4 g · kg−1 body weight sodium bicarbonate. Data are presented as means ± SEM. *: Denotes significant difference between SBC and CON

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