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Cited by 79Sports Performance and TrainingMuscle metabolism and nutritionThermoregulation and physiological responses

Dose-Response of Sodium Bicarbonate Ingestion Highlights Individuality in Time Course of Blood Analyte Responses

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Jones, Rebecca Louise, Stellingwerff, Trent, Artioli, Guilherme Giannini, Saunders, Bryan, Cooper, Simon, Sale, Craig·2016·International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
DOI 10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0286
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Abstract

To defend against hydrogen cation accumulation and muscle fatigue during exercise, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3) ingestion is commonplace. The individualized dose-response relationship between NaHCO 3 ingestion and blood biochemistry is unclear. The present study investigated the bicarbonate, pH, base excess and sodium responses to NaHCO 3 ingestion. Sixteen healthy males (23 ± 2 years; 78.6 ± 15.1 kg) attended three randomized order-balanced, nonblinded sessions, ingesting a single dose of either 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 g·kg-1 BM of NaHCO 3 (Intralabs, UK). Fingertip capillary blood was obtained at baseline and every 10 min for 1 hr, then every 15 min for a further 2 hr. There was a significant main effect of both time and condition for all assessed blood analytes (p ≤ .001). Blood analyte responses were significantly lower following 0.1 g·kg-1 BM compared with 0.2 g·kg-1 BM; bicarbonate concentrations and base excess were highest following ingestion of 0.3 g·kg-1 BM (p ≤ .01). Bicarbonate concentrations and pH significantly increased from baseline following all doses; the higher the dose the greater the increase. Large interindividual variability was shown in the magnitude of the increase in bicarbonate concentrations following each dose (+2.0–5; +5.1–8.1; and +6.0–12.3 mmol·L-1 for 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g·kg-1 BM) and in the range of time to peak concentrations (30–150; 40–165; and 75–180 min for 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g·kg-1 BM). The variability in bicarbonate responses was not affected by normalization to body mass. These results challenge current practices relating to NaHCO 3 supplementation and clearly show the need for athletes to individualize their ingestion protocol and trial varying dosages before competition.

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  • An athlete will have a longer time until fatigue, helping effects if there is a desensitization in the 24 h before competition by abstaining from caffeine.

    “Therefore, an athlete will have a longer time until fatigue, helping effects if there is a desensitization in the 24 h before the competition (abstaining from caffeine) [16].”

    From Dietary and Ergogenic Supplementation to Improve Elite Soccer Players’ Performance (2021) · cites this paper as [16]

    The Introduction says sodium bicarbonate supplementation can delay muscle fatigue. The Protocol and measurements section says caffeine was prohibited on test days, but it does not say that abstaining for 24 hours desensitizes athletes or increases time until fatigue. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • 300 mg/kg oral sodium bicarbonate can increase blood bicarbonate concentration by approximately 5-6 mmol/L.

    “which can increase the concentration of blood bicarbonate ions by approximately 5–6 mmol·L−1 [29,30,31].”

    From Effects of Enteric-Coated Formulation of Sodium Bicarbonate on Bicarbonate Absorption and Gastrointestinal Discomfort (2024) · cites this paper as [31]

  • Blood bicarbonate levels increased by approximately 5-6 mmol/L are considered sufficient to maintain or improve the buffering and contraction capacity of muscles.

    “Such levels are considered sufficient to maintain or improve the buffering and contraction capacity of muscles [29,31].”

    From Effects of Enteric-Coated Formulation of Sodium Bicarbonate on Bicarbonate Absorption and Gastrointestinal Discomfort (2024) · cites this paper as [31]

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Authors
Jones, R. L., Stellingwerff, T., Artioli, G. G., Saunders, B., Cooper, S., & Sale, C.
Affiliations
  • Canadian Sport Centre Pacific (CA)
  • Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
  • Nottingham Trent University (GB)
Corresponding author
Sale, Craig
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
Publisher
Human Kinetics
Published
2016-10
Volume
26
Issue
5
Pages
445-453
ISSN
  • 1526-484X (ISSN-L)
  • 1543-2742
DOI
10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0286
OpenAlex
W2336329049
Cited by
75
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4
FWCI
10.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) (acceptedVersion)
  • Nottingham Trent University's Institutional Repository (Nottingham Trent Repository) (acceptedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • University of Bedfordshire Repository (University of Bedfordshire) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • University of Nottingham
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
Keywords
sodium bicarbonate, dose-response relationship, interindividual variability, blood bicarbonate, blood pH, base excess, sodium, capillary blood, exercise supplementation, hydrogen ion accumulation, individualized supplementation
MeSH terms
Adult, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Individuality, Male, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Linear Models, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cross-Over Studies, Muscle Fatigue, Dietary Supplements, Athletic Performance, Young Adult, Athletes

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