title: The ergogenic effect of beta-alanine combined with sodium bicarbonate on high-intensity swimming performance.
abstract: We investigated the effect of beta-alanine (BA) alone (study A) and in combination with sodium bicarbonate (SB) (study B) on 100- and 200-m swimming performance. In study A, 16 swimmers were assigned to receive either BA (3.2 g·day(-1) for 1 week and 6.4 g·day(-1) for 4 weeks) or placebo (PL; dextrose). At baseline and after 5 weeks of supplementation, 100- and 200-m races were completed. In study B, 14 were assigned to receive either BA (3.2 g·day(-1) for 1 week and 6.4 g·day(-1) for 3 weeks) or PL. Time trials were performed once before and twice after supplementation (with PL and SB), in a crossover fashion, providing 4 conditions: PL-PL, PL-SB, BA-PL, and BA-SB. In study A, BA supplementation improved 100- and 200-m time-trial performance by 2.1% (p = 0.029) and 2.0% (p = 0.0008), respectively. In study B, 200-m time-trial performance improved in all conditions, compared with presupplementation, except the PL-PL condition (PL-SB, +2.3%; BA-PL, +1.5%; BA-SB, +2.13% (p < 0.05)). BA-SB was not different from BA-PL (p = 0.21), but the probability of a positive effect was 78.5%. In the 100-m time-trial, only a within-group effect for SB was observed in the PL-SB (p = 0.022) and BA-SB (p = 0.051) conditions. However, 6 of 7 athletes swam faster after BA supplementation. The probability of BA having a positive effect was 65.2%; when SB was added to BA, the probability was 71.8%. BA and SB supplementation improved 100- and 200-m swimming performance. The coingestion of BA and SB induced a further nonsignificant improvement in performance.
authors.affiliation: a University of Sao Paulo, School of Physical Education and Sports - Department of Biodynamics, Laboratory of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, Av. Mello de Moraes, 65 - Butanta, 05508-030, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitor de Salles
authors.initials: Vde S
authors.lastname: Painelli
authors.forename: Hamilton
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roschel
authors.forename: Flávia de
authors.initials: Fd
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.forename: Roger Charles
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Marina Yázigi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: Fabiana Braga
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Benatti
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gualano
authors.forename: Antonio Herbert
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lancha
authors.forename: Guilherme Giannini
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Artioli
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D013550:Swimming; D015091:beta-Alanine
chemical_list: D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances; D015091:beta-Alanine; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate