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Cited by 13Sports Performance and TrainingThermoregulation and physiological responsesCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Beneficial effects of oral and topical sodium bicarbonate during a battery of team sport-specific exercise tests in recreationally trained male athletes

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Gurton, William H., Greally, Jordanne, Chudzikiewicz, Karolina, Gough, Lewis A., Lynn, Anthony, Ranchordas, Mayur K.·2023·Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
DOI 10.1080/15502783.2023.2216678PMC PMC10215010
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Abstract

Objective This study examined the effects of oral and topical (PR Lotion; Momentous) sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) during a battery of team sport-specific exercise tests.Method In a block randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 14 recreationally trained male team sport athletes performed a familiarization visit and three experimental trials receiving: (i) 0.3 g·kg−1 body mass (BM) NaHCO3 in capsules + placebo lotion (SB-ORAL), (ii) placebo capsules +0.9036 g·kg−1 BM PR Lotion (SB-LOTION), or (iii) placebo capsules + placebo lotion (PLA). Supplements were given ~120 min prior to the team sport-specific exercise tests: countermovement jumps (CMJ), 8 × 25 m repeated sprints and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2). Blood acid–base balance (pH, bicarbonate) and electrolytes (sodium, potassium) were measured throughout. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after each sprint and post-Yo-Yo IR2.Results Distance covered during the Yo-Yo IR2 was 21% greater for SB-ORAL compared with PLA (+94 m; p = 0.009, d = 0.64) whereas performance was only 7% greater for SB-LOTION compared with PLA (480 ± 122 vs. 449 ± 110 m; p = 0.084). Total completion time for the 8 × 25 m repeated sprint test was 1.9% faster for SB-ORAL compared with PLA (−0.61 s; p = 0.020, d = 0.38) and 2.0% faster for SB-LOTION compared with PLA (−0.64 s; p = 0.036, d = 0.34). CMJ performance was similar between treatments (p > 0.05). Blood acid–base balance and electrolytes were significantly improved for SB-ORAL compared with PLA, but no differences were observed for SB-LOTION. Compared to PLA, RPE was lower for SB-LOTION after the fifth (p = 0.036), sixth (p = 0.012), and eighth (p = 0.040) sprints and for SB-ORAL after the sixth (p = 0.039) sprint.Conclusions Oral NaHCO3 improved 8 × 25 m repeated sprint (~2%) and Yo-Yo IR2 performance (21%). Similar improvements in repeated sprint times were observed for topical NaHCO3 (~2%), but no significant benefits were reported for Yo-Yo IR2 distance or blood acid–base balance compared to PLA. These findings suggest that PR Lotion might not be an effective delivery system for transporting NaHCO3 molecules across the skin and into systematic circulation, therefore further research is needed to elucidate the physiological mechanisms responsible for the ergogenic effects of PR Lotion.

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  • Gurton et al. 2023 found no significant between-condition differences in aggregate GIS at any timepoint (all p ≥ 0.110), though mean values were not reported.

    “(W. H. Gurton, Greally, et al. 2023) found no significant between‐condition differences in aggregate GIS at any timepoint (all p ≥ 0.110), though mean values were not reported.”

    From Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as W. H. Gurton, Greally, et al. 2023

  • On three separate occasions, Gurton and colleagues compared GIS following ingestion of capsules versus a topical sodium-bicarbonate-containing lotion, all providing 0.3 g/kg.

    “On three separate occasions, Gurton and colleagues (W. H. Gurton et al. 2023, 2024, 2025) compared GIS following ingestion of capsules versus a topical sodium‐bicarbonate‐containing lotion, all providing 0.3 g/kg.”

    From Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as W. H. Gurton et al. 2023

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Authors
Gurton, W. H., Greally, J., Chudzikiewicz, K., Gough, L. A., Lynn, A., & Ranchordas, M. K.
Affiliations
  • Sheffield Hallam University (GB)
  • Birmingham City University (GB)
Corresponding author
Ranchordas, Mayur K.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2023-05-25
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
2216678-2216678
ISSN
1550-2783 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1080/15502783.2023.2216678
PMC
PMC10215010
OpenAlex
W4378172652
Cited by
13
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4
FWCI
3.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • BCU Open Access Repository (Birmingham City University) (acceptedVersion)
  • SHURA (Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive) (Sheffield Hallam University) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Sheffield Hallam University
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
sodium bicarbonate, oral supplementation, acid-base balance, blood lactate, repeated sprint performance, countermovement jump, electrolytes, rating of perceived exertion, team sport athletes, recreational athletes, acidosis
MeSH terms
Team Sports, Double-Blind Method, Exercise Test, Humans, Male, Polyesters, Running, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cross-Over Studies, Athletic Performance, Athletes

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