Effect of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on measures of football performance - with reference to the impact of training status

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate effects of acute sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion on performance during a football-specific protocol, with reference to mediating effects of intermittent training status. Methods: Ten male university football players (age: 21±1 yrs, height: 180±2 cm, mass: 78.8±2.8 kg) completed two six-a-side football matches after ingesting either 0.4 g.kg-1 NaHCO3 (staggered over 90-min) or no supplement (CON) in a randomised, counterbalanced order. Activity profiles, blood [lactate], HR and gastrointestinal distress determined throughout. Training status was evaluated using Yo-YoIR1, Yo-YoIR2 and repeated-sprint tests. Results: Players performed 70.3% more high-speed running (17-21 km.h-1) during 0-5min following NaHCO3 ingestion vs. CON (17.9±5.2 vs. 10.5±3.1 m, P<0.05). No other significant activity profile differences, including high-intensity running (HIR; >14km.hr-1), existed between conditions during any period (P>0.05). However, total HIR increased for 70% of participants following NaHCO3 vs. CON (P>0.05). Large-very large correlations (0.5<r<0.9) existed between training status measures and HIR improvement from CON to NaHCO3 during certain match periods (P<0.05). Conclusions: Acute NaHCO3 ingestion appears ergogenic for some, but not all, football performance measures. Furthermore, individual variability in HIR response suggests this ergogenic potential is not realised by everyone. Correlational analysis suggests higher intermittent training status may potentiate NaHCO3 efficacy.