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International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: sodium bicarbonate and exercise performance.

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
January 1, 1970
Jozo Grgic et al. (17 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Extracted Claims (19)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
sodium bicarbonate supplementation (doses from 0.2 to 0.5 g/kg)
increase
muscular endurance activities
-
-
improves performance
#1
sodium bicarbonate supplementation (doses from 0.2 to 0.5 g/kg)
increase
various combat sports, including boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, and wrestling
-
-
improves performance
#2
sodium bicarbonate supplementation (doses from 0.2 to 0.5 g/kg)
increase
high-intensity cycling, running, swimming, and rowing
-
-
improves performance
#3
sodium bicarbonate
increase
single- and multiple-bout exercise
-
-
improves performance
#4
sodium bicarbonate
increase
exercise performance
both men and women
-
improves exercise performance
#5
0.2 g/kg of sodium bicarbonate
increase
exercise performance
-
-
seems to be the minimum dose required to experience improvements
#6
0.3 g/kg of sodium bicarbonate
increase
exercise performance
-
-
seems to be the optimal dose for ergogenic effects
#7
higher doses (e.g., 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg)
no change
single-dose supplementation protocols
-
-
may not be required
#8
higher doses (e.g., 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg)
no change
benefits
-
compared with 0.3 g/kg
do not provide additional benefits
#9
higher doses (e.g., 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg)
increase
adverse side-effects
-
-
are associated with a higher incidence and severity
#10
multiple-day protocols of sodium bicarbonate supplementation
increase
exercise performance
-
-
can be effective in improving
#11
a total sodium bicarbonate dose of 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg per day
increase
exercise performance
-
-
produces ergogenic effects
#12
multiple-day protocols
decrease
sodium bicarbonate-induced side-effects on the day of competition
-
-
could help reduce the risk
#13
Long-term use of sodium bicarbonate (e.g., before every exercise training session)
increase
training adaptations
-
-
may enhance training adaptations
#14
Long-term use of sodium bicarbonate
increase
increased time to fatigue and power output
-
-
enhance
#15
sodium bicarbonate supplementation
increase
bloating, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
-
-
are
#16
side-effects following sodium bicarbonate supplementation
decrease
exercise performance
-
-
may negatively impact
#17
Combining sodium bicarbonate with creatine or beta-alanine
increase
exercise performance
-
-
may produce additive effects
#18
sodium bicarbonate
increase
exercise performance
-
-
improves
#19
Abstract

Based on a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the literature regarding the effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on exercise performance, conducted by experts in the field and selected members of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the following conclusions represent the official Position of the Society: 1. Supplementation with sodium bicarbonate (doses from 0.2 to 0.5 g/kg) improves performance in muscular endurance activities, various combat sports, including boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, and wrestling, and in high-intensity cycling, running, swimming, and rowing. The ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate are mostly established for exercise tasks of high-intensity that last between 30 s and 12 min. 2. Sodium bicarbonate improves performance in single- and multiple-bout exercise. 3. Sodium bicarbonate improves exercise performance in both men and women. 4. For single-dose supplementation protocols, 0.2 g/kg of sodium bicarbonate seems to be the minimum dose required to experience improvements in exercise performance. The optimal dose of sodium bicarbonate dose for ergogenic effects seems to be 0.3 g/kg. Higher doses (e.g., 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg) may not be required in single-dose supplementation protocols, because they do not provide additional benefits (compared with 0.3 g/kg) and are associated with a higher incidence and severity of adverse side-effects. 5. For single-dose supplementation protocols, the recommended timing of sodium bicarbonate ingestion is between 60 and 180 min before exercise or competition. 6. Multiple-day protocols of sodium bicarbonate supplementation can be effective in improving exercise performance. The duration of these protocols is generally between 3 and 7 days before the exercise test, and a total sodium bicarbonate dose of 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg per day produces ergogenic effects. The total daily dose is commonly divided into smaller doses, ingested at multiple points throughout the day (e.g., 0.1 to 0.2 g/kg of sodium bicarbonate consumed at breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The benefit of multiple-day protocols is that they could help reduce the risk of sodium bicarbonate-induced side-effects on the day of competition. 7. Long-term use of sodium bicarbonate (e.g., before every exercise training session) may enhance training adaptations, such as increased time to fatigue and power output. 8. The most common side-effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation are bloating, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The incidence and severity of side-effects vary between and within individuals, but it is generally low. Nonetheless, these side-effects following sodium bicarbonate supplementation may negatively impact exercise performance. Ingesting sodium bicarbonate (i) in smaller doses (e.g., 0.2 g/kg or 0.3 g/kg), (ii) around 180 min before exercise or adjusting the timing according to individual responses to side-effects, (iii) alongside a high-carbohydrate meal, and (iv) in enteric-coated capsules are possible strategies to minimize the likelihood and severity of these side-effects. 9. Combining sodium bicarbonate with creatine or beta-alanine may produce additive effects on exercise performance. It is unclear whether combining sodium bicarbonate with caffeine or nitrates produces additive benefits. 10. Sodium bicarbonate improves exercise performance primarily due to a range of its physiological effects. Still, a portion of the ergogenic effect of sodium bicarbonate seems to be placebo-driven.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Athletic PerformanceExerciseFemaleHumansMalePerformance-Enhancing SubstancesSodium BicarbonateSports Nutritional Sciences
Study Links
Citation Metrics
Total Citations58
Citations/Year14.5
Relative Citation Ratio7.61
NIH Percentile96.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
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