Background

A novel sodium bicarbonate (SB) product has come to market named the “Bicarb System” (M-SB; Maurten AB, Gothenburg, Sweden). It claims to minimise gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort whilst still improving exercise performance.

Aim

To investigate the effects of M-SB ingestion on repeated 4 km cycling time trials (TT1 and TT2) in well-trained male cyclists.

Methods

The study recruited ten well-trained cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\)): 67 ± 4 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ BM; peak power output (PPO) at \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\): 423 ± 21 W) to take part in this randomised, crossover and double-blinded study. Following one visit to determine \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\), participants completed a second visit to identify individual time to peak blood bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) (ITTP) in a rested state. Visit three was a familiarisation trial mimicking the experimental procedures. Visits four to seven consisted of completing 2 × 4 km cycling TTs separated by 45 min passive recovery, following one of either: 0.3 g kg⁻¹ BM M-SB, 0.21 g kg⁻¹ BM sodium chloride (placebo; PLA) in vegetarian capsules (size 00), or a control trial (CON). Supplements (M-SB or placebo) were ingested pre-exercise at their respective ITTP.

Results

Performance in TT1 was faster in the M-SB condition compared with TT1 in CON (− 5.1 s; p = 0.004) and PLA (− 3.5 s; p < 0.001). In TT2, performance was also significantly faster in the M-SB condition compared with CON (− 4.4 s; p = 0.018) or PLA (− 4.1 s; p = 0.002). Total aggregated GI symptoms were generally low and not significantly different between PLA and the M-SB conditions for a range of symptoms.

Conclusions

The ingestion of M-SB improves repeated 4 km cycling TT performance and the recovery of acid–base balance between bouts, whilst causing minimal GI discomfort.

中文翻译：

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新型碳酸氢钠摄入系统对训练有素的男性自行车运动员重复 4 公里自行车计时赛表现的影响

 背景

一种新型碳酸氢钠 (SB) 产品已上市，名为“Bicarb System”（M-SB；Maurten AB，哥德堡，瑞典）。它声称可以最大限度地减少胃肠道 (GI) 不适，同时仍能提高运动表现。

 目的

旨在研究摄入 M-SB 对训练有素的男性自行车手重复 4 公里自行车计时试验（TT1 和 TT2）的影响。

 方法

该研究招募了 10 名训练有素的自行车手（最大摄氧量 ( \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\) ）：67 ± 4 ml kg ⁻¹ min ⁻¹ BM；峰值\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\) 的功率输出 (PPO) : 423 ± 21 W) 参加这项随机、交叉和双盲研究。在一次访问以确定\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\)后，参与者完成了第二次访问以确定血液碳酸氢根 (HCO ₃ ⁻ ) (ITTP) 峰值的个人时间休息的状态。第三次访问是模仿实验程序的熟悉试验。第四到七次访问包括完成 2 × 4 km 自行车 TT，间隔 45 分钟被动恢复，遵循以下任一方法：素食者服用 0.3 g kg ^-1 BM M-SB、0.21 g kg ^-1 BM 氯化钠（安慰剂；PLA）胶囊（尺寸 00），或对照试验 (CON)。补充剂（M-SB 或安慰剂）在各自的 ITTP 运动前摄入。

 结果

与 CON（− 5.1 s； p = 0.004）和 PLA（− 3.5 s； p < 0.001）中的 TT1 相比，M-SB 条件下 TT1 的性能更快。在 TT2 中，与 CON（− 4.4 s； p = 0.018）或 PLA（− 4.1 s； p = 0.002）相比，M-SB 条件下的性能也明显更快。 PLA 和 M-SB 条件下的一系列症状的总胃肠道症状总体较低且没有显着差异。

 结论

摄入 M-SB 可以改善重复 4 公里自行车 TT 的表现以及比赛之间酸碱平衡的恢复，同时将胃肠道不适降至最低。