Effect of Warm-Up and Sodium Bicarbonate Ingestion on 4-km Cycling Time-Trial Performance

Abstract

Purpose: To examine whether an ecologically valid, intermittent, sprint-based warm-up strategy impacted the ergogenic capacity of individualized sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion on 4-km cycling time-trial (TT) performance. Methods: A total of 8 male cyclists attended 6 laboratory visits for familiarization, determination of time to peak blood bicarbonate, and 4 × 4-km cycling TTs. Experimental beverages were administered doubleblind. Treatments were conducted in a block-randomized, crossover order: intermittent warm-up + NaHCO3 (IWSB), intermittent warm-up + placebo, control warm-up + NaHCO3 (CWSB), and control warm-up + placebo (CWP). The intermittent warm-up comprised exercise corresponding to lactate threshold (5 min at 50%, 2 min at 60%, 2 min at 80%, 1 min at 100%, and 2 min at 50%) and 3 × 10-second maximal sprints. The control warm-up comprised 16.5 minutes cycling at 150 W. Participants ingested 0.3 g·kg body mass−1 NaHCO3 or 0.03 g·kg body mass−1 sodium chloride (placebo) in 5 mL·kg body mass−1 fluid (3:2, water and sugar-free orange squash). Paired t tests were conducted for TT performance. Hematological data (blood bicarbonate and blood lactate) and gastrointestinal discomfort were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Performance was faster for CWSB versus IWSB (5.0 [6.1] s; P = .052) and CWP (5.8 [6.0] s; P = .03). Pre-TT bicarbonate concentration was elevated for CWSB versus IWSB (+9.3 mmol·L−1; P < .001) and CWP (+7.1 mmol·L−1; P < .001). Post-TT blood lactate concentration was elevated for CWSB versus CWP (+2.52 mmol·L−1; P = .022). Belching was exacerbated pre-warm-up for IWSB versus intermittent warm-up +placebo (P = .046) and CWP (P = .027). Conclusion: An intermittent, sprint-based warm-up mitigated the ergogenic benefits of NaHCO3 ingestion on 4-km cycling TT performance.

The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation at individual time‐to‐peak blood bicarbonate on 4‐km cycling time trial performance in the heat

“…The current study findings support previous work on cycling time trials performed in thermoneutral conditions that report ergogenic effects following NaHCO3 ingestion (Gough et al, 2018a(Gough et al, , 2018bGurton et al, 2021a;Hilton et al, 2020). The rise in extracellular acid base balance likely explains the improved performance following NaHCO3 ingestion, as such increases are suggested to increase H + efflux due to the upregulation of the lactate/H + cotransporter, and subsequently more H + is buffered (Marx et al, 2002).…”

International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: sodium bicarbonate and exercise performance

“…The influence of different warm-up strategies on the ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate has been explored in two studies. Gurton et al [207] explored whether an intermittent, sprint-based warm-up relative to lactate threshold (5 min at 50%; 2 min at 60%; 2 min at 80%; 1 min at 100%; 2 min at 50%; and 3 × 10-s maximal sprints with 90-s recovery) impacted the ergogenic effects of individualized sodium bicarbonate ingestion on 4-km cycling time-trial performance compared to a control warm-up (16.5 min cycling at 150 W). Their results showed that the high-intensity warm-up mitigated the ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate in club-level cyclists, likely due to the use of the increased buffering capacity during this intense warm-up.…”

“…The difference between these studies may be related to the time between the warm-up and the exercise bout. Specifically, Gurton et al [207] allowed 10 min between the end of the warm-up and the exercise bout, while Jones et al…”

Voluntary Hydration with Skimmed Lactose-Free Milk during Exercise in the Heat: Exploring Effectiveness and Tolerance

“…In addition, our logistic regression did not confirm our own analysis of the mean scores, as only belching showed a significant odds ratio, and that in the opposite direction of our expectations (the odds of reporting belching were higher when drinking water than when drinking milk). Belching is frequently reported during exercise [42][43][44], and it is attributed to oral ingestion of excessive amounts of air [45], which in the present study may have occurred concomitantly with drinking a large volume of water [46]. Resolution of the discrepancies mentioned above regarding fullness, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and belching may require different protocols; perhaps a more demanding exercise duration and intensity, the explicit prescription of higher fluid volumes, or a combination of both would result in higher symptom scores and frequencies which might provide clearer results.…”