Sodium bicarbonate supplementation improved MAOD but is not correlated with 200- and 400-m running performances: a double-blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled study

• Published in: Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism nutrition, and metabolism, 2015-09, Vol.40 (9), p.931-937
• Main Authors: Brisola, Gabriel Motta Pinheiro, Miyagi, Willian Eiji, da Silva, Henrique Santos, Zagatto, Alessandro Moura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; anaerobic capacity; Anaerobic Threshold; bicarbonate de sodium; blood lactate; Brazil; capacité anaérobie; Chemical compounds; Correlation analysis; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary supplements; Double-Blind Method; efforts supramaximaux; ergogenic aid; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test; facteur ergogène; Humans; lactate sanguin; Lactic Acid - metabolism; Male; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Physical Endurance - drug effects; Physiological aspects; Placebo effect; Runners (Sports); Running; Sodium bicarbonate; Sodium Bicarbonate - administration & dosage; supramaximal efforts; Time Factors; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1715-5312; 1715-5320
• DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0036

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of acute supplementation of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) on maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) determined by a single supramaximal effort (MAOD ALT ) in running and the correlation with 200- and 400-m running performances. Fifteen healthy men (age, 23 ± 4 years; maximal oxygen uptake, 50.6 ± 6.1 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 ) underwent a maximal incremental exercise test and 2 supramaximal efforts at 110% of the intensity associated with maximal oxygen uptake, which was carried out after ingesting either 0.3 g·kg −1 body weight NaHCO 3 or a placebo (dextrose) and completing 200- and 400-m performance tests. The study design was double-blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled. Significant differences were found between the NaHCO 3 and placebo conditions for MAOD ALT (p = 0.01) and the qualitative inference for substantial changes showed a very likely positive effect (98%). The lactic anaerobic contribution in the NaHCO 3 ingestion condition was significantly higher (p < 0.01) and showed a very likely positive effect (99% chance), similar to that verified for peak blood lactate concentration (p < 0.01). No difference was found for time until exhaustion (p = 0.19) or alactic anaerobic contribution (p = 0.81). No significant correlations were observed between MAOD ALT and 200- and 400-m running performance tests. Therefore, we can conclude that both MAOD ALT and the anaerobic lactic metabolism are modified after acute NaHCO 3 ingestion, but it is not correlated with running performance.