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Cited by 30Sports Performance and TrainingCardiovascular and exercise physiologyMuscle metabolism and nutrition

Effect of sodium bicarbonate contribution on energy metabolism during exercise: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Calvo, Jorge Lorenzo, Xu, Huanteng, Mon-López, Daniel, Pareja-Galeano, Helios, Jiménez, Sergio Lorenzo·2021·Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
DOI 10.1186/s12970-021-00410-yPMC PMC7863495
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Abstract

The effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) on anaerobic and aerobic capacity are commonly acknowledged as unclear due to the contrasting evidence thus, the present study analyzes the contribution of NaHCO 3 to energy metabolism during exercise. Following a search through five databases, 17 studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses of standardized mean differences (SMDs) were performed using a random-effects model to determine the effects of NaHCO 3 supplementation on energy metabolism. Subgroup meta-analyses were conducted for the anaerobic-based exercise (assessed by changes in pH, bicarbonate ion [HCO 3 − ], base excess [BE] and blood lactate [BLa]) vs. aerobic-based exercise (assessed by changes in oxygen uptake [VO 2 ], carbon dioxide production [VCO 2 ], partial pressure of oxygen [PO 2 ] and partial pressure of carbon dioxide [PCO 2 ]). The meta-analysis indicated that NaHCO 3 ingestion improves pH (SMD = 1.38, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.79, P < 0.001; I 2 = 69%), HCO 3 − (SMD = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.17, P < 0.001; I 2 = 80%), BE (SMD = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.19, P < 0.001, I 2 = 77%), BLa (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.11, P < 0.001, I 2 = 68%) and PCO 2 (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.90, P = 0.009, I 2 = 0%) but there were no differences between VO 2 , VCO 2 and PO 2 compared with the placebo condition. This meta-analysis has found that the anaerobic metabolism system (AnMS), especially the glycolytic but not the oxidative system during exercise is affected by ingestion of NaHCO 3 . The ideal way is to ingest it is in a gelatin capsule in the acute mode and to use a dose of 0.3 g•kg − 1 body mass of NaHCO 3 90 min before the exercise in which energy is supplied by the glycolytic system.

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Authors
Calvo, J. L., Xu, H., Mon-López, D., Pareja-Galeano, H., & Jiménez, S. L.
Affiliations
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ES)
  • Universidad Europea de Madrid (ES)
  • Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport scienceUniversidad Politécnica de Madrid Madrid Spain
  • Faculty of Sport SciencesUniversidad Europea de Madrid Madrid Spain
  • Centre for Sport StudiesRey Juan Carlos University Fuenlabrada Spain
Corresponding author
  • Calvo, Jorge Lorenzo
  • Xu, Huanteng
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2021-01-02
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
11-11
ISSN
1550-2783 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12970-021-00410-y
PMC
PMC7863495
OpenAlex
W3127892371
Cited by
30
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3
FWCI
0.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ABACUS. Repositorio de Producción Científica (Universidad Europea) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Universidad Europea de Madrid
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
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 supplementation, exercise metabolism, anaerobic metabolism, aerobic metabolism, blood lactate, blood pH, base excess, bicarbonate ions, oxygen consumption, CO2 emissions, glycolytic metabolism, exercise performance, acute supplementation, sports nutrition, endurance exercise, anaerobic capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness, cost-effectiveness
MeSH terms
Anaerobiosis, Bicarbonates, Carbon Dioxide, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Oxygen, Exercise, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lactic Acid

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