title: Effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on prolonged intermittent exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on prolonged intermittent exercise and performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight healthy male subjects (mean +/- SD: age 25.4 +/- 6.4 yr, mass 70.9 +/- 5.1 kg, height 179 +/- 7 cm, VO(2max) 4.21 +/- 0.51 L.min-1) volunteered for the study, which had received ethical approval. Subjects undertook two 30-min intermittent cycling trials (repeated 3-min blocks; 90 s at 40% VO(2max), 60 s at 60% VO(2max), 14-s maximal sprint, 16-s rest) after ingestion of either sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3); 0.3 g.kg-1) or sodium chloride (NaCl; 0.045 g x kg(-1). Expired air, blood lactate (BLa), bicarbonate (HCO(3)-), and pH were measured at rest, 30 and 60 min postingestion, and during the 40% VO(2max) component of exercise (4, 10, 16, and 29 min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After ingestion, pH increased from rest to 7.46 +/- 0.03 and 7.40 +/- 0.01 for NaHCO(3) and NaCl, respectively (main effect for time and trial; P < 0.05). Values decreased at 15 min of exercise to 7.30 +/- 0.07 and 7.21 +/- 0.06, respectively, remaining at similar levels until the end of exercise. BLa peaked at 15 min (12.03 +/- 4.31 and 10.00 +/- 2.58 mmol.L-1, for NaHCO(3) and NaCl, respectively; P > 0.05) remaining elevated until the end of exercise (P < 0.05). Peak power expressed relative to sprint 1 demonstrated a significant main effect between trials (P < 0.05). Sprint 2 increased by 11.5 +/- 5% and 1.8 +/- 9.5% for NaHCO(3) and NaCl, respectively. During NaHCO(3), sprint 8 remained similar to sprint 1 (0.2 +/- 17%), whereas a decrease was observed during NaCl (-10.0 +/- 16.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that ingestion of NaHCO(3) improves sprint performance during prolonged intermittent cycling.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and the Environment, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom. m.price@coventry.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rance
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate