Sodium Bicarbonate Improves Swimming Performance

Abstract

Sodium bicarbonate ingestion has been shown to improve performance in single-bout, high intensity events, probably due to an increase in buffering capacity, but its influence on single-bout swimming performance has not been investigated. The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on 200 m freestyle swimming performance were investigated in elite male competitors. Following a randomised, double blind counterbalanced design, 9 swimmers completed maximal effort swims on 3 separate occasions: a control trial (C); after ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (SB: NaHCO3 300 mg . kg (-1) body mass); and after ingestion of a placebo (P: CaCO3 200 mg . kg (-1) body mass). The SB and P agents were packed in gelatine capsules and ingested 90 - 60 min prior to each 200 m swim. Mean 200 m performance times were significantly faster for SB than C or P (1 : 52.2 +/- 4.7; 1 : 53.7 +/- 3.8; 1 : 54.0 +/- 3.6 min : ss; p < 0.05). Base excess, pH and blood bicarbonate were all elevated pre-exercise in the SB compared to C and P trials (p < 0.05). Post-200 m blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher following the SB trial compared with P and C (p < 0.05). It was concluded that SB supplementation can improve 200 m freestyle performance time in elite male competitors, most likely by increasing buffering capacity.

Influence of Acqua Lete® (Bicarbonate Calcic Natural Mineral Water) Hydration on Blood Lactate After Exercise

“…However, studies about the effect of bicarbonate ingestion on metabolic response are often conflicting. A study conduct on horses by Schuback et al in 2002 reported no effect of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on metabolic response and duration of exercise [23]; contrariwise other study reported in athletes, show an improved performance in a way dose-dependent [24][25][26] and probably by increasing buffering capacity [27,28]. Alkalinizing agents, including sodium bicarbonate, have been proposed as ergogenic aids for their potential effect on providing enhanced extracellular buffer capacity.…”

The ergogenic effect of beta-alanine combined with sodium bicarbonate on high-intensity swimming performance

“…There are various studies showing the beneficial effects of both acute and chronic SB ingestion on high-intensity exercise capacity (McNaughton et al 2008) and on performance in various sports, such as judo (Artioli et al 2007), swimming (Lindh et al 2008), and boxing (Siegler and Hirscher 2010). Several qualitative reviews are available on the effects of BA on exercise performance and capacity (Artioli et al 2010;Derave et al 2010;Sale et al 2010).…”

“…Some studies have examined the ergogenic potential of SB on short-distance swimming performance (i.e., 100 and 200 m or 100 and 200 yards) and interval swimming performance (Gao et al 1988;Pierce et al 1992;Lindh et al 2008;Pruscino et al 2008;Siegler and Hirscher 2010;Joyce et al 2012). However, results are quite conflicting; some studies reported no effect of SB on timetrial performance (Pierce et al 1992;Pruscino et al 2008;Joyce et al 2012), one reported a positive effect on swimming trials (Lindh et al 2008), and others reported improved interval swimming performance (Gao et al 1988;Siegler and Hirscher 2010).…”

Sodium bicarbonate ingestion improves Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test 1 performance: a randomized crossover trial

“…Yet Vanhatalo et al 12 observed that despite pre-exercise alkalosis being achieved by NaHCO 3 -ingestion, critical power, work done above the critical power (W′: considered as energy available from anaerobic sources), and total work done during a 3-min all-out test were unaltered. However, performance enhancement has been demonstrated during repeated sprint swimming, 13 and high-intensity running 14 was preceded by NaHCO 3 -ingestion. Moreover, some authors have reported improved performance during the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test 2 (IR2).…”