title: Sodium bicarbonate ingestion and repeated swim sprint performance.
abstract: The purpose of the present investigation was to observe the ergogenic potential of 0.3 g·kg-1 of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in competitive, nonelite swimmers using a repeated swim sprint design that eliminated the technical component of turning. Six male (181.2 ± 7.2 cm; 80.3 ± 11.9 kg; 50.8 ± 5.5 ml·kg-1·min-1 VO2max) and 8 female (168.8 ± 5.6 cm; 75.3 ± 10.1 kg; 38.8 ± 2.6 ml·kg-1·min-1 VO2max) swimmers completed 2 trial conditions (NaHCO3 [BICARB] and NaCl placebo [PLAC]) implemented in a randomized (counterbalanced), single blind manner, each separated by 1 week. Swimmers were paired according to ability and completed 8, 25-m front crawl maximal effort sprints each separated by 5 seconds. Blood acid-base status was assessed preingestion, pre, and postswim via capillary finger sticks, and total swim time was calculated as a performance measure. Total swim time was significantly decreased in the BICARB compared to PLAC condition (p = 0.04), with the BICARB condition resulting in a 2% decrease in total swim time compared to the PLAC condition (159.4 ± 25.4 vs. 163.2 ± 25.6 seconds; mean difference = 4.4 seconds; 95% confidence interval = 8.7-0.1). Blood analysis revealed significantly elevated blood buffering potential preswim (pH: BICARB = 7.48 ± 0.01, PLAC = 7.41 ± 0.01) along with a significant decrease in extracellular K+ (BICARB = 4.0 ± 0.1 mmol·L-1, PLAC = 4.6 ± 0.1 mmol·L-1). The findings suggest that 0.3 g·kg-1 NaHCO3 ingested 2.5 hours before exercise enhances the blood buffering potential and may positively influence swim performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom. j.siegler@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Siegler
authors.forename: Damien O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Gleadall-Siddall
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000187:drug effects; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate