Warm-up intensity does not affect the ergogenic effect of sodium bicarbonate in adult men.

Jones, Rebecca L.; Stellingwerff, Trent; Swinton, Paul; Artioli, Guilherme Giannini; Saunders, Bryan; Sale, Craig

Abstract

This study determined the influence of a high- (HI) versus low-intensity (LI) cycling warm-up on blood acid-base responses and exercise capacity following ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (SB; 0.3 g/kg body mass) or a placebo (PLA; maltodextrin) 3 hr prior to warm-up. Twelve men (21 ± 2 years, 79.2 ± 3.6 kg body mass, and maximum power output [Wmax] 318 ± 36 W) completed a familiarization and four double-blind trials in a counterbalanced order: HI warm-up with SB, HI warm-up with PLA, LI warm-up with SB, and LI warm-up with PLA. LI warm-up was 15 min at 60% Wmax, while the HI warm-up (typical of elites) featured LI followed by 2 × 30 s (3-min break) at Wmax, finishing 30 min prior to a cycling capacity test at 110% Wmax. Blood bicarbonate and lactate were measured throughout. SB supplementation increased blood bicarbonate (+6.4 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval, CI [5.7, 7.1]) prior to greater reductions with HI warm-up (-3.8 mmol/L; 95% CI [-5.8, -1.8]). However, during the 30-min recovery, blood bicarbonate rebounded and increased in all conditions, with concentrations ∼5.3 mmol/L greater with SB supplementation (p < .001). Blood bicarbonate significantly declined during the cycling capacity test at 110% Wmax with greater reductions following SB supplementation (-2.4 mmol/L; 95% CI [-3.8, -0.90]). Aligned with these results, SB supplementation increased total work done during the cycling capacity test at 110% Wmax (+8.5 kJ; 95% CI [3.6, 13.4], ∼19% increase) with no significant main effect of warm-up intensity (+0.0 kJ; 95% CI [-5.0, 5.0]). Collectively, the results demonstrate that SB supplementation can improve HI cycling capacity irrespective of prior warm-up intensity, likely due to blood alkalosis.

Citation

JONES, R.L., STELLINGWERFF, T., SWINTON, P., ARTIOLI, G.G., SAUNDERS, B. and SALE, C. 2021. Warm-up intensity does not affect the ergogenic effect of sodium bicarbonate in adult men. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism [online], 31(6), pages 482-489. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0076

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 3, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 3, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 20, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 20, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
• Print ISSN: 1526-484X
• Electronic ISSN: 1543-2742
• Publisher: Human Kinetics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 482-489
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0076
• Keywords: Buffering; Supplementation; Sports; Cycling; High intensity; Low intensity
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1500040