Exercise-induced metabolic processes induce muscle acidification which contributes to a reduction in the ability to perform repeated efforts. Alkalizing agents such as sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) prevent large blood pH changes, however, there is no evidence on whether regulation of acid-base balance may also support whole body homeostasis monitored through heamatological and biochemical blood markers in a dose-dependent manner. Thirty Cross-Fit-trained participants were studied in a randomized, multi cross-over, placebo (PLA)-controlled double-blind manner in which they performed a control session (CTRL, without supplementation), three NaHCO3 visits (three different doses) and PLA (sodium chloride in an equimolar amount of sodium as NaHCO3). Each visit consisted of two 30-s Wingate tests separated by CrossFit-specific benchmarks (Wall Balls and Burpees - both performed for 3 min). Blood samples were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise and after 45 min recovery. Significant differences between visits appeared for blood pH, percentage of lymphocytes and granulocytes, red blood cells count and haemoglobin concentration at post-exercise and 45-min recovery, and for white blood cells count, percentage of monocytes, concentration of magnesium and creatinine at 45-min recovery. Most of the observed differences for heamatological and biochemical markers were significant compared to CTRL, but not different after PLA. NaHCO3 supplementation compared to PLA did not significantly affect exercise or recovery shifts in studied blood indicators. However, the changes in these markers after NaHCO3 and PLA in relation to CTRL indicate a possible role of sodium.

Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group School of Physical Education and Sport Rheumatology Division Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil

Department of Biochemical Sciences Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin 71 460 Szczecin Poland

Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacogenomics Medical University of Warsaw 02 097 Warsaw Poland

Department of Physiology and Biochemistry Poznan University of Physical Education 61 871 Poznan Poland

Department of Sports Dietetics Poznan University of Physical Education 61 871 Poznan Poland

Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology Faculty of Medicine FMUSP University of São Paulo Brazil

Sport Sciences Biomedical Department Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Charles University 162 52 Prague Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Robergs RA, Ghiasvand F, Parker D. Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004; 287(3):R502–16. PubMed

Gledhill N. Bicarbonate ingestion and anaerobic performance. Sports Med. 1984; 1(3):177–80. PubMed

Bauer P, Zeissler S, Walscheid R, Frech T, Hillebrecht A. Acute effects of high-intensity exercise on hematological and iron metabolic parameters in elite male and female dragon boating athletes. Phys Sportsmed. 2018; 46(3):335–341. PubMed

Ohlsson L, Hall A, Lindahl H, Danielsson R, Gustafsson A, Lavant E, Ljunggren L. Increased level of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA due to a single bout of strenuous physical exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2020; 120(4):897–905. PubMed PMC

Szanto S, Mody T, Gyurcsik Z, Babjak LB, Somogyi V, Barath B, Varga A, Matrai AA, Nemeth N. Alterations of Selected Hemorheological and Metabolic Parameters Induced by Physical Activity in Untrained Men and Sportsmen. Metabolites. 2021; 14; 11(12):870. PubMed PMC

Jamurtas AZ, Fatouros IG, Deli CK, Georgakouli K, Poulios A, Draganidis D, Papanikolaou K, Tsimeas P, Chatzinikolaou A, Avloniti A, Tsiokanos A, Koutedakis Y. The Effects of Acute Low-Volume HIIT and Aerobic Exercise on Leukocyte Count and Redox Status. J Sports Sci Med. 2018; 14; 17(3):501–508. PubMed PMC

Cordova A. Changes on plasmatic and erythrocytic magnesium levels after high-intensity exercises in men. Physiol Behav. 1992; 52(4):819–21. PubMed

Skarpańska-Stejnborn A, Basta P, Trzeciak J, Szcześniak-Pilaczyńska Ł. Effect of intense physical exercise on hepcidin levels and selected parameters of iron metabolism in rowing athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2015; 115(2):345–51. PubMed PMC

Bartolomei S, Sadres E, Church DD, Arroyo E, Gordon JA III, Varanoske AN, Wang R, Beyer KS, Oliveira LP, Stout JR, Hoffman JR. Comparison of the recovery response from high-intensity and high-volume resistance exercise in trained men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017; 117(7):1287–1298. PubMed

Kılıc Y, Cetin HN, Sumlu E, Pektas MB, Koca HB, Akar F. Effects of Boxing Matches on Metabolic, Hormonal, and Inflammatory Parameters in Male Elite Boxers. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019; 18; 55(6):288. PubMed PMC

Kartaram S, Mensink M, Teunis M, Schoen E, Witte G, Janssen Duijghuijsen L, Verschuren M, Mohrmann K, M’Rabet L, Knipping K, Wittink H, van Helvoort A, Garssen J, Witkamp R, Pieters R, van Norren K. Plasma citrulline concentration, a marker for intestinal functionality, reflects exercise intensity in healthy young men. Clin Nutr. 2019; 38(5):2251–2258. PubMed

Medbø JI, Hanem S, Noddeland H, Jebens E. Arterio-venous differences of blood acid-base status and plasma sodium caused by intense bicycling. Acta Physiol Scand. 2000; 168(2):311–26. PubMed

Lippi G, Sanchis-Gomar F. Epidemiological, biological and clinical update on exercise-induced hemolysis. Ann Transl Med. 2019; 7(12):270. PubMed PMC

Wang XH, Mitch WE. Muscle wasting from kidney failure-a model for catabolic conditions. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2013; 45(10):2230–8. PubMed PMC

Durkalec-Michalski K, Zawieja EE, Podgórski T, Łoniewski I, Zawieja BE, Warzybok M, Jeszka J. The effect of chronic progressive-dose sodium bicarbonate ingestion on CrossFit-like performance: A double-blind, randomized cross-over trial. PLoS One. 2018; 17; 13(5):e0197480. PubMed PMC

de Oliveira LF, Dolan E, Swinton PA, Durkalec-Michalski K, Artioli GG, McNaughton LR, Saunders B. Extracellular Buffering Supplements to Improve Exercise Capacity and Performance: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2022; 52(3):505–526. PubMed

Freis T, Hecksteden A, Such U, Meyer T. Effect of sodium bicarbonate on prolonged running performance: A randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. PLoS One. 2017; 10; 12(8):e0182158. PubMed PMC

McNaughton LR, Siegler J, Midgley A. Ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2008; 7(4):230–6. PubMed

Isoardi KZ, Chiew AL. Too much of a good thing: Bicarbonate toxicity following treatment of sodium channel blocker overdose. Emerg Med Australas. 2022; 34(4):639–41. PubMed

Grgic J, Pedisic Z, Saunders B, Artioli GG, Schoenfeld BJ, McKenna MJ, Bishop DJ, Kreider RB, Stout JR, Kalman DS, Arent SM, VanDusseldorp TA, Lopez HL, Ziegenfuss TN, Burke LM, Antonio J, Campbell BI. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: sodium bicarbonate and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021; 9; 18(1):61. PubMed PMC

Siegler JC, Marshall PW, Bray J, Towlson C. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation and ingestion timing: does it matter? J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(7):1953–8. PubMed

Higgins MF, James RS, Price MJ. The effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion on high intensity cycling capacity. J Sports Sci. 2013; 31(9):972–81. PubMed

Saunders B, Sale C, Harris RC, Sunderland C. Sodium bicarbonate and high-intensity-cycling capacity: variability in responses. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2014; 9(4):627–32. PubMed

Ragone L, Guilherme Vieira J, Camaroti Laterza M, Leitão L, da Silva Novaes J, Macedo Vianna J, Ricardo Dias M. Acute Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Discomfort, Acid-Base Balance, and Performance of Jiu-Jitsu Athletes. J Hum Kinet. 2020; 31; 75:85–93. PubMed PMC

Burke LM, Pyne DB. Bicarbonate loading to enhance training and competitive performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2007; 2(1):93–7. PubMed

Gurton WH, Gough LA, Sparks SA, Faghy MA, Reed KE. Sodium Bicarbonate Ingestion Improves Time-to-Exhaustion Cycling Performance and Alters Estimated Energy System Contribution: A Dose-Response Investigation. Front Nutr. 2020; 8; 7:154. PubMed PMC

Cameron SL, McLay-Cooke RT, Brown RC, Gray AR, Fairbairn KA. Increased blood pH but not performance with sodium bicarbonate supplementation in elite rugby union players. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010; 20(4):307–21. PubMed

AbuMoh’d MF, Alsababha W, Haddad Y, Obeidat G, Telfah Y. Effect of acute sodium bicarbonate intake on sprint-intermittent performance and blood biochemical responses in well-trained sprinters. Monten J Sports Sci Med. 2021; 10(1):5.

Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, Smith-Ryan A, Kleiner SM, Jäger R, Collins R, Cooke M, Davis JN, Galvan E, Greenwood M, Lowery LM, Wildman R, Antonio J, Kreider RB. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018; 15(1):38. PubMed PMC

Carr AJ, Slater GJ, Gore CJ, Dawson B, Burke LM. Effect of sodium bicarbonate on [HCO3−], pH, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2011; 21(3):189–94. PubMed

Durkalec-Michalski K, Nowaczyk PM, Adrian J, Kamińska J, Podgórski T. The influence of progressive-chronic and acute sodium bicarbonate supplementation on anaerobic power and specific performance in team sports: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2020; 24; 17:38. PubMed PMC

Durkalec-Michalski K, Zawieja EE, Zawieja BE, Podgórski T. Evaluation of the repeatability and reliability of the cross-training specific Fight Gone Bad workout and its relation to aerobic fitness. Sci Rep. 2021; 31; 11(1):7263. PubMed PMC

Podgórski T, Bartkowiak U, Pawlak M. Comparison of hematological parameters of venous and capillary blood in athletes. Trends Sport Sci. 2014; 21(1).

Durkalec-Michalski K, Nowaczyk PM, Główka N, Ziobrowska A, Podgórski T. Is a Four-Week Ketogenic Diet an Effective Nutritional Strategy in CrossFit-Trained Female and Male Athletes? Nutrients. 2021; 6; 13(3):864. PubMed PMC

Gough LA, Deb SK, Brown D, Sparks SA, McNaughton LR. The effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on cycling performance and acid base balance recovery in acute normobaric hypoxia. J Sports Sci. 2019; 37(13):1464–1471. PubMed

Siegler JC, Keatley S, Midgley AW, Nevill AM, McNaughton LR. Pre-exercise alkalosis and acid-base recovery. Int J Sports Med. 2008; 29(7):545–51. PubMed

Mündel T. Sodium bicarbonate ingestion improves repeated high-intensity cycling performance in the heat. Temperature (Austin). 2018; 13; 5(4):343–347. PubMed PMC

Gurton W, Macrae H, Gough L, King DG. Effects of post-exercise sodium bicarbonate ingestion on acid-base balance recovery and time-to-exhaustion running performance: a randomised crossover trial in recreational athletes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021; 46(9):1111–1118. PubMed

Edwards KM, Burns VE, Carroll D, Drayson M, Ring C. The acute stress-induced immunoenhancement hypothesis. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2007; 35(3):150–5. PubMed

Okajima F. Regulation of inflammation by extracellular acidification and protonsensing GPCRs. Cell Signal. 2013; 25(11):2263–71. PubMed

Wang S, McDonnell EH, Sedor FA, Toffaletti JG. pH effects on measurements of ionized calcium and ionized magnesium in blood. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002; 126(8):947–50. PubMed

Reinhart WH, Gaudenz R, Walter R. Acidosis induced by lactate, pyruvate, or HCl increases blood viscosity. J Crit Care. 2002; 17(1):68–73. PubMed

Brancaccio P, Maffulli N, Buonauro R, Limongelli FM. Serum enzyme monitoring in sports medicine. Clin Sports Med. 2008; 27(1):1–18. PubMed

Pettersson J, Hindorf U, Persson P, Bengtsson T, Malmqvist U, Werkström V, Ekelund M. Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008; 65(2):253–9. PubMed PMC

Yin B, Tang S, Sun J, Zhang X, Xu J, Di L, Li Z, Hu Y, Bao E. Vitamin C and sodium bicarbonate enhance the antioxidant ability of H9C2 cells and induce HSPs to relieve heat stress. Cell Stress Chaperones. 2018; 23(4):735–748. PubMed PMC

Robb EJ, Kronfeld DS. Dietary sodium bicarbonate as a treatment for exertional rhabdomyolysis in a horse. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1986; 15; 188(6):602–7. PubMed

Halperin ML, Chen CB, Cheema-Dhadli S, West ML, Jungas RL. Is urea formation regulated primarily by acid-base balance in vivo? Am J Physiol. 1986; 250(4 Pt 2):F605–12. PubMed

Peart DJ, Siegler JC, Vince RV. Practical recommendations for coaches and athletes: a meta-analysis of sodium bicarbonate use for athletic performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(7):1975–83. PubMed

Twelve-Week Colostrum Bovinum Supplementation Supports Aerobic Capacity but has No Effect on Body Composition in Endurance-Trained Males: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

The dose-dependent effect of caffeine supplementation on performance, reaction time and postural stability in CrossFit - a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial

The effect of caffeine dose on caffeine and paraxanthine changes in serum and saliva and CYP1A2 enzyme activity in athletes: a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial

The effect of 12-week high-dose Colostrum Bovinum supplementation on immunological, hematological and biochemical markers in endurance athletes: a randomized crossover placebo-controlled study

Bovine colostrum supplementation as a new perspective in depression and substance use disorder treatment: a randomized placebo-controlled study