Abstract
BackgroundIndividual time to peak blood bicarbonate (HCO3−) has demonstrated good to excellent reproducibility following ingestion of both 0.2 g kg−1 body mass (BM) and 0.3 g kg−1 BM sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), but the consistency of the time trial (TT) performance response using such an individualised NaHCO3 ingestion strategy remains unknown. This study therefore evaluated the reproducibility of 4-km TT performance following NaHCO3 ingestion individualised to time to peak blood bicarbonate.MethodsEleven trained male cyclists completed five randomised treatments with prior ingestion of 0.2 g kg−1 (SBC2) or 0.3 g kg−1 BM (SBC3) NaHCO3, on two separate occasions each, or a control trial entailing no supplementation. Participants completed a 4-km cycling TT on a Velotron ergometer where time to complete, power and speed were measured, whilst acid-base blood parameters were also recorded (pH and blood bicarbonate concentration HCO3−) and lactate [La−].ResultsAlkalosis was achieved prior to exercise in both SBC2 and SBC3, as pH and HCO3− were greater compared to baseline (p < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (p > 0.05). The reproducibility of the mean absolute change from baseline to peak in HCO3− was good in SBC2 (r = 0.68) and excellent in SBC3 (r = 0.78). The performance responses following both SBC2 and SBC3 displayed excellent reproducibility (r range = 0.97 to 0.99).ConclusionsResults demonstrate excellent reproducibility of exercise performance following individualised NaHCO3 ingestion, which is due to the high reproducibility of blood acid-base variables with repeat administration of NaHCO3. Using a time to peak HCO3- strategy seems to cause no dose-dependent effects on performance for exercise of this duration and intensity; therefore, athletes may consider smaller doses of NaHCO3 to mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort.
Highlights
Individual time to peak blood bicarbonate (HCO3−) has demonstrated good to excellent reproducibility following ingestion of both 0.2 g kg−1 body mass (BM) and 0.3 g kg−1 BM sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), but the consistency of the time trial (TT) performance response using such an individualised NaHCO3 ingestion strategy remains unknown
Excellent reproducibility of time to complete the 4-km TT was observed in both SBC2 (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) and SBC3 (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) with a low typical error (TE)
Mean power displayed excellent reproducibility in both SBC2 (r = 0.96, p < 0.001; TE = 0.6%) and SBC3 (r = 0.98, p < 0.001; TE = 0.4%)
Summary
Individual time to peak blood bicarbonate (HCO3−) has demonstrated good to excellent reproducibility following ingestion of both 0.2 g kg−1 body mass (BM) and 0.3 g kg−1 BM sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), but the consistency of the time trial (TT) performance response using such an individualised NaHCO3 ingestion strategy remains unknown. Both the individual bioavailability and bioefficacy can be quantified to maximise the effects of an intervention within individuals [23] This concept can be applied to the use of nutritional ergogenic aids aimed to enhance human physiology and exercise performance; common practice of ergogenic aid research determines the effectiveness of a single treatment by evaluating the mean differences between groups or trials [15]. To account for this, repeat administration of the experimental treatment is plausible, thereby allowing assessment of the reproducibility of nutritional ergogenic aids [18, 19] This method permits athletes to appropriately evaluate the effectiveness of ergogenic aids and to assess if they can provide consistent benefits to exercise performance upon repeated use during training and/or competition [4]
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