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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03406065

Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation in Combat Sports Athletes

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of 10-day sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and placebo (PLA) supplementation on physical and specific performance capacity, as well as concentrations of the selected biochemical blood markers in trained combat sports athletes, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

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Key information

Conditions

Supplementation Sport

Age range

17 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2 / Phase 3

Primary location

Poznan University of Life Sciences, ul.Wojska Polskiego 31

Poznan, Wielkopolska, 60-624, Poland

About this study

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was proposed as an ergogenic agent, because it improves high-intensity and resistance exercise performance. Until now the major limitation to NaHCO3 supplementation has been the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of chronic, progressive-dose NaHCO3 ingestion on physical capacity and specific performance capacity, and concentrations of the selected biochemical blood markers in trained combat sports athletes, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • written informed consent from all participants before the study (included aslo informed consents to the participation in the study of athletes under the age of 18 obtained from their parents)
  • a current medical clearance to practice sports,
  • training experience: at least 4 years (of combat sport training),
  • minimum of 4 workout sessions (combat sport) a week,

Exclusion criteria

  • current injury,
  • any health-related contraindication,
  • declared general feeling of being unwell,
  • unwilling to follow the study protocol.

Treatment and study plan

Sodium bicarbonate supplementation

Dietary Supplement

The experimental procedure for each athlete included a 10-day NaHCO3 supplementation in a progressive-dose regimen in order to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects (from 25 to 100 mg ∙ kg-1). NaHCO3 was administered in the form of unmarked disk-shaped tablets (Alkala T, SANUM, Poland). The tablets were ingested with at least 250 mL of water and could be either swallowed or dissolved in the mouth. On training days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the evening and 1.5 hours before training session. On rest days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

Placebo treatment

Dietary Supplement

The experimental procedure for each athlete included a 10-day placebo administration. Placebo was ingested with at least 250 mL of water. On training days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the evening and 1.5 hours before training session. On rest days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in anaerobic capacity after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT)

  2. Changes in specific performance capacity after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    The wrestler's special endurance test - projective test with dummy (DT)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes of lactate and pyruvate concentration in blood after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    Lactate [mmol/L] and pyruvate [mmol/L] concentration analysis

  2. Changes of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity in blood after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    Creatine kinase [U/L] and lactate dehydrogenase [U/L] activity analysis

  3. Changes in blood glucose and hemoglobin concentration after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    Hemoglobin (Hb) [g/dl] and glucose [g/dl] concentration analysis

  4. Changes in blood hematocrit levels after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    Hematocrit (HCT) [%] level analysis

  5. Changes of red and white blood cell concentration in blood after sodium bicarbonate supplementation

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    Red blood cells (RBC) [mln/mm³] and white blood cells (WBC) [mln/mm³] concentration analysis

  6. Changes in polyphenols and albumin concentration

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    Polyphenols [g/L] and and albumin [g/L] concentration analysis

  7. Changes in FRAP concentration

    Time frame: Baseline and after 10 days

    FRAP [µmol/L] concentration analysis

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Poznan University of Life Sciences

Other

Collaborators

  • Poznan University of PhysED

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical and Specific Performance Capacity in Combat Sports Athletes

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Jan 23, 2018
Registry last updated
Jan 23, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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