Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Improves Hypertrophy-Type Resistance Exercise Performance
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2013
Department
Human Performance and Recreation
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) administration on lower-body, hypertrophy-type resistance exercise (HRE). Using a double-blind randomized counterbalanced design, 12 resistance-trained male participants (mean +/- A SD; age = 20.3 +/- A 2 years, mass = 88.3 +/- A 13.2 kg, height = 1.80 +/- A 0.07 m) ingested 0.3 g kg(-1) of NaHCO3 or placebo 60 min before initiation of an HRE regimen. The protocol employed multiple exercises: squat, leg press, and knee extension, utilizing four sets each, with 10-12 repetition-maximum loads and short rest periods between sets. Exercise performance was determined by total repetitions generated during each exercise, total accumulated repetitions, and a performance test involving a fifth set of knee extensions to failure. Arterialized capillary blood was collected via fingertip puncture at four time points and analyzed for pH, [HCO3 (-)], base excess (BE), and lactate [Lac(-)]. NaHCO3 supplementation induced a significant alkaline state (pH: NaHCO3: 7.49 +/- A 0.02, placebo: 7.42 +/- A 0.02, P < 0.05; [HCO3 (-)]: NaHCO3: 31.50 +/- A 2.59, placebo: 25.38 +/- A 1.78 mEq L-1, P < 0.05; BE: NaHCO3: 7.92 +/- A 2.57, placebo: 1.08 +/- A 2.11 mEq L-1, P < 0.05). NaHCO3 administration resulted in significantly more total repetitions than placebo (NaHCO3: 139.8 +/- A 13.2, placebo: 134.4 +/- A 13.5), as well as significantly greater blood [Lac(-)] after the exercise protocol (NaHCO3: 17.92 +/- A 2.08, placebo: 15.55 +/- A 2.50 mM, P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate ergogenic efficacy for NaHCO3 during HRE and warrant further investigation into chronic training applications.
Publication Title
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume
113
Issue
3
First Page
743
Last Page
752
Recommended Citation
Carr, B. M.,
Webster, M. J.,
Boyd, J. C.,
Hudson, G. M.,
Scheett, T. P.
(2013). Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Improves Hypertrophy-Type Resistance Exercise Performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 113(3), 743-752.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/7644