Neither an Individualised Nor a Standardised Sodium Bicarbonate Strategy Improved Performance in High-Intensity Repeated Swimming, or a Subsequent 200 m Swimming Time Trial in Highly Trained Female Swimmers

Newbury, Josh W. and Cole, Matthew and Kelly, Adam L. and Gough, Lewis A. (2024) Neither an Individualised Nor a Standardised Sodium Bicarbonate Strategy Improved Performance in High-Intensity Repeated Swimming, or a Subsequent 200 m Swimming Time Trial in Highly Trained Female Swimmers. Nutrients, 16 (18). p. 3123. ISSN 2072-6643

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Abstract

Inconsistent swimming performances are often observed following sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion, possibly because the time taken to reach peak blood buffering capacity is highly variable between individuals. Personalising NaHCO3 ingestion based on time-to-peak blood bicarbonate (HCO3−) could be a solution; however, this strategy is yet to be explored in swimming, or adequately compared to standardised NaHCO3 approaches. Therefore, six highly trained female swimmers ingested 0.3 g·kg BM−1 NaHCO3 in capsules to pre-determine their individual time-to-peak blood HCO3−. They then participated in three experimental trials, consisting of a 6 × 75 m repeated sprint swimming test, followed by a 200 m maximal time trial effort after 30 min active recovery. These experiments were conducted consuming a supplement at three different timings: individualised NaHCO3 (IND: 105–195 min pre-exercise); standardised NaHCO3 (STND: 150 min pre-exercise); and placebo (PLA: 90 min pre-exercise). Both NaHCO3 strategies produced similar increases in blood HCO3− prior to exercise (IND: +6.8 vs. STND: +6.1 mmol·L−1, p < 0.05 vs. PLA) and fully recovered blood HCO3− during active recovery (IND: +6.0 vs. STND: +6.3 mmol·L−1 vs. PLA, p < 0.05). However, there were no improvements in the mean 75 m swimming time (IND: 48.2 ± 4.8 vs. STND: 48.9 ± 5.8 vs. PLA: 49.1 ± 5.1 s, p = 0.302) nor 200 m maximal swimming (IND: 133.6 ± 5.0 vs. STND: 133.6 ± 4.7 vs. PLA: 133.3 ± 4.4 s, p = 0.746). Regardless of the ingestion strategy, NaHCO3 does not appear to improve exercise performance in highly trained female swimmers.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: 10.3390/nu16183123
Dates:
Date
Event
7 September 2024
Accepted
16 September 2024
Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords: sport nutrition, ergogenic aids, supplements, alkalosis, competition swimming
Subjects: CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > Centre for Life and Sport Sciences (C-LASS)
Depositing User: Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2024 13:56
Last Modified: 15 Oct 2024 13:56
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15904

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