Effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on anaerobic performance of women: Dosage effect

Moderately trained females (n = 12; mean VO2 = 40.2 +/- 5.3 ml . kg(-1). min(-1)) following ingestion of 0.1 or 0.2 g . kg(-1) body weight (BW) of NaHCO3, or a CaCO3 placebo, performed 1 min bouts of cycle exercise at 110% VO2peak, spaced with 9 min passive rest, to volitional fatigue. The three conditions were administered in a randomized double-blind design. Time to exhaustion was increased significantly (p < 0.05) following 0.2 g . kg(-1) BW of NaHCO3 (162.4 +/- 107.3 s), compared with the 0.1 g . kg(-1) BW of NaHCO3 (133.9 +/- 83.3), and placebo conditions (129.4 +/- 104 s), whereas no difference among trials was observed for change in blood lactate from pre- to 5-min post exercise or ratings of perceived exertion. The findings show that a NaHCO3 dosage of 0.2 g . kg(-1) BW is effective in improving performance during high-intensity intermittent work for moderately trained females. However, the threshold dosage of NaHCO3 appears to be greater than 0.1 g . kg(-1).