Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Muscle Performance and Muscle Damage: A Double Blind, Randomized Crossover Study

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) has been used as an ergogenic substance during high-intensity exercises. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of NaHCO3 supplementation on external and internal load parameters during isokinetic exercise in trained subjects. Ten subjects were tested on two occasions: after ingesting 0.3 g.kg-1 of body mass of NaHCO3 or placebo. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction was performed before and after a dynamic protocol consisting of 10 series of 10 movements of flexion/extension of the knee extensors at 120 degrees s-1 at an interval of 60 s between series. Outcomes considered were: peak torque (isokinetic dynamometry), blood lactate and creatine concentration (CK), analysis of perceptions of effort (OMNI scale), pain (visual analog scale) and recovery (scale raging 6 to 20). Performance was assessed using peak torque values. Muscle damage was assessed prior and 24 h post exercise. The subjective perceptions of effort, pain and recovery were assessed at different times and the internal load of the session was assessed 30 min post-effort. Although significant reductions in peak torque were noted both in isometric (NaHCO3:-29.11 +/- 22.95%, Placebo: -23.51 +/- 15.23%; p = 0.38) and isokinetic strength (NaHCO3:-23.0 +/- 13.9%, Placebo:-19.6 +/- 9.1%; p = 0.09), there was no effect of supplementation on performance (p > 0.05). The blood CK concentrations (NaHCO3: pre:225.3 +/- 135.9 U/L, post: 418.4 +/- 318.4 U/L; Placebo: pre:238 +/- 94.03 U/L, post:486 +/- 336.6 U/L) increased after protocol (p = 0.005), however, without differences between conditions. In conclusion, the NaHCO3 did not attribute benefits in performance or in parameters related to the internal load of exercise.