Effect of Acute Sodium Bicarbonate and Caffeine Coingestion on Repeated-Sprint Performance in Recreationally Trained Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if the coingestion of caffeine and sodium bicarbonate enhances repeated-sprint performance compared to their isolated ingestion.
Results Summary
Caffeine alone improved peak power output in the first sprint and reduced time to peak power, but coingestion with sodium bicarbonate did not show a synergistic effect. Sodium bicarbonate alone increased mean power in later sprints.
Population
25 trained participants (12 female, 13 male; mean age 23.3 years).
Effective Dosage
3 mg/kg of caffeine.
Duration
Acute (single-dose intervention).
Interactions
Coingestion with sodium bicarbonate was studied, but no synergistic effect was found.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) | increase | performance in high-intensity tasks | - | - | improves performance and delays fatigue | #1 |
caffeine (CAF) | increase | performance in high-intensity tasks | - | - | improves performance and delays fatigue | #2 |
NaHCO3 + CAF | increase | Wpeak performance in Wt 3 | twenty-five trained participants | 3% | increased | #3 |
NaHCO3 + CAF | increase | Wpeak performance in Wt 4 | twenty-five trained participants | 4.5% | increased | #4 |
NaHCO3 | increase | Wpeak performance in Wt 3 | twenty-five trained participants | 3% | increased | #5 |
NaHCO3 | increase | Wpeak performance in Wt 4 | twenty-five trained participants | 4.5% | increased | #6 |
NaHCO3 | increase | mean power performance in Wt 3 | twenty-five trained participants | 4.2% | increased | #7 |
CAF | increase | Wpeak in Wt 1 | twenty-five trained participants | 3.2% | increased | #8 |
CAF | decrease | time to Wpeak in Wt 1 | twenty-five trained participants | -8.5% | reduced | #9 |
NaHCO3 | increase | plasma lactate | twenty-five trained participants | 13% | increased | #10 |
NaHCO3 | increase | plasma lactate | twenty-five trained participants | 23% | increased | #11 |
CAF | increase | repeated-sprint performance | - | - | improved | #12 |
NaHCO3 | increase | repeated-sprint performance | - | - | improved | #13 |
coingestion of both supplements | no change | ergogenic effect | - | - | did not stimulate a synergic ergogenic effect | #14 |
INTRODUCTION: The acute and isolated ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and caffeine (CAF) improves performance and delays fatigue in high-intensity tasks. However, it remains to be elucidated if the coingestion of both dietary supplements stimulates a summative ergogenic effect. This study aimed to examine the effect of the acute coingestion of NaHCO3 and CAF on repeated-sprint performance. METHODS: Twenty-five trained participants (age: 23.3 [4.0] y; sex [female/male]: 12/13; body mass: 69.6 [12.5] kg) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA) -controlled, crossover study. Participants were assigned to 4 conditions: (1) NaHCO3 + CAF, (2) NaHCO3, (3) CAF, or (4) PLA. Thus, they ingested 0.3 g/kg of NaHCO3, 3 mg/kg of CAF, or PLA. Then, participants performed 4 Wingate tests (Wt), consisting of a 30-second all-out sprint against an individualized resisted load, interspersed by a 1.5-minute rest period between sprints. RESULTS: Peak (Wpeak) and mean (Wmean) power output revealed a supplement and sprint interaction effect (P = .009 and P = .049, respectively). Compared with PLA, NaHCO3 + CAF and NaHCO3 increased Wpeak performance in Wt 3 (3%, P = .021) and Wt 4 (4.5%, P = .047), while NaHCO3 supplementation increased mean power performance in Wt 3 (4.2%, P = .001). In Wt 1, CAF increased Wpeak (3.2%, P = .054) and reduced time to Wpeak (-8.5%; P = .008). Plasma lactate showed a supplement plus sprint interaction (P < .001) when NaHCO3 was compared with CAF (13%, P = .031) and PLA (23%, P = .021). CONCLUSION: To summarize, although the isolated ingestion of CAF and NaHCO3 improved repeated-sprint performance, the coingestion of both supplements did not stimulate a synergic ergogenic effect.