Blood, Muscle and Exercise Responses to Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation

Blood and Muscle Responses to Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation and Subsequent Exercise Performance

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in activity of transporters of H+ (monocarboxylate transporters; MCT1, MCT4, NHE) following sodium bicarbonate supplementation and subsequent exercise performance. Fifteen healthy men (age 18-35 years) will be invited to attend the laboratory on five separate visits to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants will be supplemented with a 0.3 g/kg dose of sodium bicarbonate or placebo (Analytical Pharmacy, Brazil) in opaque gelatin capsules. One hour after supplementation they will perform a 1-km time trial and every 10 minutes a blood sample will be collected. A muscle biopsy will be taken prior to supplementation, immediately prior to exercise, and immediately post-exercise. A questionnaire will be also used to evaluate the side-effects associated with sodium bicarbonate supplementation. Muscle and blood samples will be analysed for acidity and H+ and muscle samples will be analysed for H+ transporters (MCT1, MCT4, NHE).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy males

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smokers
• Chronic disease
• Prior or current use of steroids
• Use of creatine in the last 6 months
• Use of beta-alanine in the last 6 months