ǂThe ǂefects of sodium hydrogen carbonate ingestion during the recovery period between two 200‑m front‑crawl time trials

Anton Ušaj (Author), Robert Marčun (Author), Boro Štrumbelj (Author)

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine how sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO$_3$) ingestion during a 1-h recovery period after a 200-m front-crawl swim affects blood–gas levels, acid–base balance, and performance during a successive trial. Methods Fourteen national-level male swimmers (age: 21 ± 3 years, body mass (BM): 77 ± 10 kg, stature: 181 ± 7 cm) performed four maximal 200-m front-crawl tests. On one of the two days, the swimmers swam two 200-m tests with a 1-h recovery break, during which they drank water (WATER); on the other day, they performed the same protocol but consumed 0.3 g min$^{−1}$ NaHCO$_3$ solution during the recovery break (NaHCO$_3$). Results The ingestion of NaHCO$_3$ before the second test had no effect on swim time despite a greater [HCO$^−_3$] (19.2 ± 2.3 mmol L$^{−1}$) than that measured during the first test (NaHCO$_3$) (14.5 ± 1.1 mmol L$^{−1}$) and the other two tests (WATER) (12.7 ± 2.4 and 14.8 ± 1.5 mmol L$^{−1}$; F = 18.554; p = 0.000) and a higher blood pH (7.46 ± 0.03) than that measured during the first test (NaHCO$_3$) (7.39 ± 0.02) and the other two tests (WATER) (7.16 ± 0.04 and 7.20 ± 0.05); (F = 5.255; p = 0.004). An increase in blood pCO$_2$ (0.2 ± 0.3 kPa) between both tests (NaHCO$_3$) compared to unchanged pCO$_2$ values (− 0.1 ± 0.3 kPa) between the other two tests (WATER) (t = − 2.984; p = 0.011; power = 0.741) was confirmed. Conclusions NaHCO$_3$ ingestion during the recovery period between two 200-m front-crawl time trials had a strong buffering effect that did not positively affect performance. An increase in pCO$_2$ may have counterbalanced this impact.

Keywords

medicina;alkaloza krvi;acidoza;plini v krvi;kislinsko-bazično ravnovesje;tekmovalni plavalci;blood alkalosis;acidosis;blood gases;acid–base balance;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2024
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FŠ - Faculty of Sport
UDC:	612.74
COBISS:	199034371
ISSN:	1439-6327
Views:	28
Downloads:	4
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	medicina;alkaloza krvi;acidoza;plini v krvi;kislinsko-bazično ravnovesje;tekmovalni plavalci;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. [1-9]
Chronology:	6 Jun 2024
DOI:	10.1007/s00421-024-05522-2
ID:	25660813