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° 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.