The effects of chronic sodium bicarbonate ingestion and interval training in highly trained rowers.
Recent research has reported performance improvements after chronic NaHCO3 ingestion in conjunction with high-intensity interval training (HIT) in moderately trained athletes. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of altering plasma H+ concentration during HIT through NaHCO3 ingestion over 4 wk (2 HIT sessions/wk) in 12 Australian representative rowers (M ± SD; age 22 ± 3 yr, mass 76.4 ± 4.2 kg, VO(2peak) 65.50 ± 2.74 ml · kg(-1) · min(-1)). Baseline testing included a 2,000-m time trial and an incremental exercise test. After baseline testing, rowers were allocated to either a chronic NaHCO3 (ALK) or placebo (PLA) group. Starting 90 min before each HIT session, subjects ingested a 0.3-g/kg body mass dose of NaHCO3 or a placebo substance. Fingertip blood samples were taken throughout the study to analyze bicarbonate and pH levels. The ALK group did not produce any additional improvements in 2,000-m rowing performance time compared with PLA (p > .05). Magnitude-based inferential analysis indicated an unclear or trivial effect on 2,000-m power, 2,000-m time, peak power output, and power at 4 mmol/L lactate threshold in the ALK group compared with the PLA group. Although there was no difference between groups, during the study there was a significant mean (± SD) 2,000-m power improvement in both the ALK and PLA groups of 17.8 ± 14.5 and 15.2 ± 18.3 W, respectively. In conclusion, despite overall improvements in rowing performance after 4 wk of HIT, the addition of chronic NaHCO3 supplementation during the training period did not significantly enhance performance further.
Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia.
Matthew W
MW
Driller
John R
JR
Gregory
Andrew D
AD
Williams
James W
JW
Fell
D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001315:Australia; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012767:Ships; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
D007773:Lactates; D014867:Water; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate