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Cited by 55Sports Performance and TrainingThermoregulation and physiological responsesMuscle metabolism and nutrition

Alkaline water improves exercise-induced metabolic acidosis and enhances anaerobic exercise performance in combat sport athletes

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Chycki, Jakub, Kurylas, Anna, Maszczyk, Adam, Golas, Artur, Zajac, Adam·2018·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0205708PMC PMC6242303
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Abstract

Hydration is one of the most significant issues for combat sports as athletes often use water restriction for quick weight loss before competition. It appears that alkaline water can be an effective alternative to sodium bicarbonate in preventing the effects of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to investigate, in a double blind, placebo controlled randomized study, the impact of mineral-based highly alkaline water on acid-base balance, hydration status, and anaerobic capacity. Sixteen well trained combat sport athletes (n = 16), were randomly divided into two groups; the experimental group (EG; n = 8), which ingested highly alkaline water for three weeks, and the control group (CG; n = 8), which received regular table water. Anaerobic performance was evaluated by two double 30 s Wingate tests for lower and upper limbs, respectively, with a passive rest interval of 3 minutes between the bouts of exercise. Fingertip capillary blood samples for the assessment of lactate concentration were drawn at rest and during the 3rd min of recovery. In addition, acid-base equilibrium and electrolyte status were evaluated. Urine samples were evaluated for specific gravity and pH. The results indicate that drinking alkalized water enhances hydration, improves acid-base balance and anaerobic exercise performance.

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  • Both greater muscle buffering capacity and enhanced removal of protons result in increased glycolytic ATP production.

    “It appears that both greater muscle buffering capacity and enhanced removal of protons result in increased glycolytic ATP production (Chycki et al., 2018).”

    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 Chycki et al., 2018

    The Discussion (Anaerobic performance; page unavailable) links buffering and enhanced lactate/H+ efflux to improved anaerobic performance, and notes that anaerobic glycolysis provides ATP. It does not establish that these mechanisms increased glycolytic ATP production; the study reports performance and blood acid–base measures, not ATP production or a measured increase in muscle buffering capacity. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Chycki, J., Kurylas, A., Maszczyk, A., Golas, A., & Zajac, A.
Affiliations
Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego im. Jerzego Kukuczki w Katowicach (PL)
Corresponding author
Chycki, Jakub
ORCID
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2018-11-19
Volume
13
Issue
11
Pages
e0205708
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0205708
PMC
PMC6242303
OpenAlex
W2901380849
Cited by
55
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
FWCI
4.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland (NRSA3 03953 and NRSA4 040 54)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Keywords
alkaline water, metabolic acidosis, anaerobic exercise performance, combat sports athletes, acid-base balance, hydration status, sodium bicarbonate, lactate, electrolyte status, urine specific gravity, weight loss
MeSH terms
Acid-Base Equilibrium, Acidosis, Adult, Alkalies, Bicarbonates, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Male, Physical Endurance, Sports, Exercise, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lactic Acid, Dietary Supplements, Athletic Performance, Athletes

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