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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(6): 519-523
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989228
Nutrition

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sodium Bicarbonate Improves Swimming Performance

A. M. Lindh1 , M. C. Peyrebrune2 , S. A. Ingham2 , D. M. Bailey2 , J. P. Folland1
  • 1School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
  • 2East Midlands Region, English Institute of Sport, Loughborough, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision June 16, 2007

Publication Date:
14 November 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Sodium bicarbonate ingestion has been shown to improve performance in single-bout, high intensity events, probably due to an increase in buffering capacity, but its influence on single-bout swimming performance has not been investigated. The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on 200 m freestyle swimming performance were investigated in elite male competitors. Following a randomised, double blind counterbalanced design, 9 swimmers completed maximal effort swims on 3 separate occasions: a control trial (C); after ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (SB: NaHCO3 300 mg · kg-1 body mass); and after ingestion of a placebo (P: CaCO3 200 mg · kg-1 body mass). The SB and P agents were packed in gelatine capsules and ingested 90 - 60 min prior to each 200 m swim. Mean 200 m performance times were significantly faster for SB than C or P (1 : 52.2 ± 4.7; 1 : 53.7 ± 3.8; 1 : 54.0 ± 3.6 min : ss; p < 0.05). Base excess, pH and blood bicarbonate were all elevated pre-exercise in the SB compared to C and P trials (p < 0.05). Post-200 m blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher following the SB trial compared with P and C (p < 0.05). It was concluded that SB supplementation can improve 200 m freestyle performance time in elite male competitors, most likely by increasing buffering capacity.

Key words

swimming performance - elite athletes - alkalosis

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Dr. Jonathan P. Folland

Loughborough University
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Loughborough

United Kingdom

Fax: + 0 15 09 22 63 01

Email: j.p.folland@lboro.ac.uk