Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Muscle Performance and Muscle Damage: A Double Blind, Randomized Crossover Study

Abstract

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) has been used as an ergogenic substance during high-intensity exercises. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of NaHCO³ supplementation on external and internal load parameters during isokinetic exercise in trained subjects. Ten subjects were tested on two occasions: after ingesting 0.3 g.kg-1 of body mass of NaHCO₃ or placebo. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction was performed before and after a dynamic protocol consisting of 10 series of 10 movements of flexion/extension of the knee extensors at 120° s-1 at an interval of 60 s between series. Outcomes considered were: peak torque (isokinetic dynamometry), blood lactate and creatine concentration (CK), analysis of perceptions of effort (OMNI scale), pain (visual analog scale) and recovery (scale raging 6 to 20). Performance was assessed using peak torque values. Muscle damage was assessed prior and 24 h post exercise. The subjective perceptions of effort, pain and recovery were assessed at different times and the internal load of the session was assessed 30 min post-effort. Although significant reductions in peak torque were noted both in isometric (NaHCO₃:-29.11 ± 22.95%, Placebo: −23.51 ± 15.23%; p = 0.38) and isokinetic strength (NaHCO₃:-23.0 ± 13.9%, Placebo:-19.6 ± 9.1%; p = 0.09), there was no effect of supplementation on performance (p > 0.05). The blood CK concentrations (NaHCO₃: pre:225.3 ± 135.9 U/L, post: 418.4 ± 318.4 U/L; Placebo: pre:238 ± 94.03 U/L, post:486 ± 336.6 U/L) increased after protocol (p = 0.005), however, without differences between conditions. In conclusion, the NaHCO₃ did not attribute benefits in performance or in parameters related to the internal load of exercise.

Keywords:

• alkalosis
• creatine kinase
• exercise
• muscular strength
• recovery

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants for the participation in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Productivity Research Program Scholarship by Faculdade Estacio de Sá-Vitoria address to RLC and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Espírito Santo (grant numbers 84417625/2018). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Rafael A. Battazza

Rafael A Battazza is a Research Assistant in the Department of Rehabilitation Science, Human Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE- Brazil).

Marcelo M. Kalytczak

Marcelo M Kalytczak is a Research Assistant in the Department of Rehabilitation Science, Human Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE- Brazil).

Carine D. F. C. Leite

Carine D. F. C. Leite PhD student and Researcher at the Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory of Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Roberta L. Rica

Roberta L. Rica is currently an Professor and Research on Faculty Estácio de Sá – Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Marco A. Lamolha

Marco A. Lamolha is currently an Adjunct Professor at Universidade São Judas Tadeu and researcher at the Nucleus of Pharmaceutical Studies at the same University, focusing on the development and evaluation of alternative forms of medicines and supplements for practitioners of physical activities.

Antonio H. Lancha Junior

Antonio H. Lancha Junior is bachelor’s at Physical Education from Universidade de São Paulo (1987), master’s at Nutrição Experimental from Universidade de São Paulo (1991) and doctorate at Nutrição Experimental from Universidade de São Paulo (1993). He is currently professor at Universidade de São Paulo. Has experience in Fitness, focusing on Fitness, acting on the following subjectssupplementation, obese women, aspartate and physical activity.

Adriano F. Maia

Adriano Fortes Maia is currently an Associate Professor at Sport Department of Physical Education Sport Center on Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Espirito Santo, Brazil and Researcher at the Sport’s Nutrition Laboratory at the same University. Has focused research on the effects of exercise and nutrition interventions investigating aspects of nutritional supplementation; ergogenic aids, sports nutrition and performance.

Marco Bergamin

Marco Bergamin is currently an assistant professor of Department of Medicine, University of Padova and researcher of Research Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Julien S. Baker

Julien Baker is Head of the Sport, Physical Education and Health Department at Hong Kong Baptist University. He is a Fellow of the Physiological Society, a member of the American Physiological Society, and the Society for the Study of Biology (SSOB). In addition, he has membership of the British Pharmacological Society, and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). Professor Baker is a Honorary Professor at the University of Ningbo, and has Visiting Professor status at the University of Sydney and Ningbo University Ninth Hospital Medical Research Center.

Fabiano Politti

Fabiano Politti is currently a Full Professor at the Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE- Brazil) and a Researcher at the Department of Rehabilitation Science, Human Motion Analysis Laboratory at the same University. He has expertise in coordinating and managing the conduct of clinical trial. His research focuses on electrophysiology, neurophysiology of movement, muscle pain and motor control, training and learning, postural control and biomedical signal processing.

Danilo S. Bocalini

Danilo Sales Bocalini is currently an Adjunto Professor at Sport Department of Physical Education Sport Center on Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Espirito Santo, Brazil and Researcher at the Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory at the same University. Has expertise in coordinating and managing the basic and applied studies. Its research focuses is address on exercise, cardiovascular and cardiac physiology in different physical exercise protocols and session designs.