Acute and chronic loading of sodium bicarbonate in highly trained swimmers
Abstract
In the present study, 200-m swim time in highly trained male swimmers was measured on two consecutive days (Trial 1 and Trial 2) and under three conditions [(1) acute loading, AcL; (2) chronic loading, ChL; (3) Placebo, PLA]. No sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) was administered between Trial 1 and Trial 2 under each condition. Blood lactate concentration ([La(-)]), base excess of extracellular fluid (BE(ecf)), plasma bicarbonate concentration ([HCO(3) (-)]) and pH were determined before and after capsule administration as well as at 0, 3, 5, 15 and 30 min after each 200-m swim trial. Swim time was not different among AcL, ChL or PLA for Trial 1 or 2 and we observed no change in 200-m swim time from Trial 1 to 2 under any condition (F = 0.48, P = 0.80). [HCO(3) (-)], pH and BE(ecf) measured after capsule administration was higher during AcL and ChL when compared with PLA (P 0.05). The results indicate that acute and chronic loading of NaHCO(3) does not improve 200-m swim time in highly trained male swimmers.
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Some studies did not find significant differences between sodium bicarbonate and placebo conditions.
“However, the findings are equivocal, and some studies did not find significant differences between sodium bicarbonate and placebo conditions (Joyce et al., 2012; Driller et al., 2013).”
From Acute enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate has negligible effect on anaerobic performance but affects metabolomics and attenuates the gastrointestinal response (2022) · cites this paper as Joyce et al., 2012
The remaining two acute-versus-chronic investigations assessed GIS on days of supplementation leading up to exercise testing, with Joyce et al. 2012 assessing GIS before capsule ingestion and Aktitiz et al. 2024 assessing GIS 90 minutes after the second (evening) dose.
“The remaining two investigations did additionally assess GIS on days of supplementation leading up to exercise testing, though somewhat puzzlingly, Joyce and colleagues (Joyce et al. 2012) assessed GIS before capsule ingestion, while (Aktitiz et al. 2024) assessed GIS 90 minutes after the second (evening) dose.”
From Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as Joyce et al. 2012
Only Joyce et al. 2012 included any statistical analysis on GIS between conditions among the acute-versus-chronic studies and found no differences in severity scores between the three conditions on any day (p > 0.05).
“Only (Joyce et al. 2012) included any statistical analysis on GIS between conditions and found no differences in severity scores between the three conditions on any day (p > 0.05).”
From Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as Joyce et al. 2012
Chronic sodium bicarbonate doses in the acute-versus-chronic studies were most commonly administered over 3 days (Driller et al. 2012; Carr et al. 2012; Joyce et al. 2012), though four-day (Aktitiz et al. 2024) and five-day (Zhou, Fan, Kong, et al. 2022) protocols were present.
“Chronic doses were most commonly administered over 3 days (Driller et al. 2012; Carr et al. 2012; Joyce et al. 2012), though four‐day (Aktitiz et al. 2024) and five‐day (Zhou, Fan, Kong, et al. 2022) protocols were present.”
From Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as Joyce et al. 2012
Three of the five acute-versus-chronic investigations provided sodium bicarbonate in capsules (Driller et al. 2012; Carr et al. 2012; Joyce et al. 2012), while another described the treatments as 'enteric-coated' but did not specify if they were capsules or tablets (Zhou, Fan, Kong, et al. 2022).
“Three of these investigations provided sodium bicarbonate in capsules (Driller et al. 2012; Carr et al. 2012; Joyce et al. 2012), while another one described the treatments as “enteric‐coated” but did not specify if they were capsules or tablets (Zhou, Fan, Kong, et al. 2022).”
From Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as Joyce et al. 2012
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- Authors
- Joyce, S., Minahan, C., Anderson, M., & Osborne, M.
- Affiliations
- Griffith University (AU)
- Queensland Academy of Sport (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Minahan, Clare
- Venue
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- Published
- 2011-05-17
- Volume
- 112
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 461-469
- ISSN
- 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-6319
- 1439-6327
- OpenAlex
- W2120295463
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 3.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Keywords
- sodium bicarbonate, swimmers, blood lactate, plasma bicarbonate, blood pH, endurance performance, highly trained athletes
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Oral, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Physical Exertion, Humans, Male, Swimming, Task Performance and Analysis, Sodium Bicarbonate, Young Adult
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