Dietary sodium citrate supplementation enhances rehydration and recovery from rapid body mass loss in trained wrestlers

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of dietary sodium citrate supplementation during a 16 h recovery from 5% rapid body mass loss (RBML) on physiological functions, affective state, and performance in trained wrestlers. Sixteen wrestlers performed an upper body intermittent sprint performance (UBISP) test under three conditions: before RBML, after RBML, and after a 16 h recovery from RBML. During recovery, the subjects ate a prescribed diet supplemented with sodium citrate (600 mg·kg(-1); CIT group, N = 8) or placebo (PLC group, N = 8) and drank water ad libitum. RBML reduced (p < 0.05) UBISP mean power and increased urine specific gravity (USG). Reduction in mean power was associated with changes in plasma volume (PV) (r = 0.649, p = 0.006) and USG (r = -0.553, p = 0.026). During the 16 h recovery, increases in body mass (BM) and PV were greater (p < 0.05) in the CIT group than in the PLC group. BM gain was associated with water retention in the CIT group (r = 0.899, p = 0.002) but not in the PLC group (r = 0.335, p = 0.417). Blood pH, HCO(3)(-) concentration, and base excess increased (p < 0.05) only in the CIT group. Changes in UBISP, general negative affect, and general positive affect did not differ in the two groups. In conclusion, ingestion of sodium citrate increases blood buffering capacity and PV and stimulates BM regain during a 16 h recovery from RBML in trained wrestlers. However, sodium citrate does not improve UBISP nor does it have an impact on the affective state.

Dietary sodium citrate supplementation does not improve upper-body anaerobic performance in trained wrestlers in simulated competition-day conditions

“…An upper-body intermittent sprint performance (UBISP) test developed by Hickner et al (1991) has been shown to produce similar high blood lactate concentration as an actual competitive wrestling match (Aedma et al 2013;Aschenbach et al 2000;García-Pallarés et al 2011;Hüb-ner-Wozniak et al 2006;Timpmann et al 2012;Walberg Rankin et al 1996) and the wrestlers tested have confirmed receiving a wrestling-like fatigue feeling post-test (Hickner et al 1991). Furthermore, upper-body anaerobic peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) attained in highintensity arm-cranking exercise are considered important success factors for wrestling (García-Pallarés et al 2011;Hübner-Wozniak et al 2006).…”

“…Sodium bicarbonate successfully induced metabolic alkalosis but no ergogenic effect from ingestion of either supplement was observed. Timpmann et al (2012) reported that dietary sodium citrate supplementation compared to placebo increased blood buffering capacity and plasma volume and stimulated regain of body mass through increased water retention during 16 h recovery after rapid body mass loss in trained wrestlers. However, sodium citrate did not increase PP or MP attained in UBISP test.…”

“…The reason for lack of any ergogenic effect of alkalizing agents in these two studies remained obscure. Nevertheless, Aschenbach et al (2000) speculated that absence of expansion of intravascular volume in their subjects may had excluded any performance benefits of sodium bicarbonate ingestion and Timpmann et al (2012) considered the possibility that the degree of alkalosis achieved with sodium citrate ingestion may had been physiologically insufficient for enhancing glycolytic ATP production and UBISP.…”

“…Previous studies (Aschenbach et al 2000;Timpmann et al 2012) employed a single test protocol which mimicked one single wrestling match. However, in order to win a tournament, wrestlers usually have to win multiple consecutive matches which take place over relatively short recovery periods between the wrestling bouts.…”

“…Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the influence of dietary sodium citrate supplementation on UBISP across four consecutive tests mimicking four wrestling matches in a competition-day. Considering the findings of previous studies (Aschenbach et al 2000;Timpmann et al 2012) we intended to achieve physiologically significant degree of alkalosis together with an increase in plasma volume and hypothesized that inducing such changes sodium citrate compared to placebo improves UBISP in trained wrestlers.…”