Acute effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation by resistant training practices

Abstract

Currently, the use of sodium bicarbonate (SB) as an ergogenic supplement has been linked to improved performance in several high-intensity and short time interval modalities because it is a natural buffer of the body fluids of the human body. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of SB supplementation on muscle strength endurance of resistance training practitioners. Crossover clinical trial, placebo-controlled (PL), and single-masked, included 10 trained adult men. The maximum repetition (1RM) and exhaustion tests with 80% 1RM were performed in the extensor chair and direct thread. In all sessions, the volunteers were verbally stimulated, the total maximum repetitions in the exercises and the blood lactate concentration were measured. SB was supplemented at a dose of 0.3 g/kg body mass. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the data, and the Student’s t-test was used for independent and paired samples. The size of the Cohen’s effect was calculated, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. Comparing the supplements, no significant differences were found in all variables tested. However, when comparing pretest and posttest periods, significant differences were found between lactate concentrations, with considerably large effect sizes (> 1.00). SB supplementation by endurance training practitioners induces blood alkalosis, which reduces fatigue and possibly improves muscle strength endurance.

Keywords: resistance exercise, ergogenic, metabolic acidosis, muscular fatigue, performance.