Enhancement on Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance With Hyperventilation

Relatively long-lasting metabolic alkalizing procedures such as bicarbonate ingestion have potential for improving performance in long-sprint to middle-distance events. Within a few minutes, hyperventilation can induce respiratory alkalosis. However, corresponding performance effects are missing or equivocal at best. Purpose: To test a potential performance-enhancing effect of respiratory alkalosis in a 30-s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Methods: 10 men (mean +/- SD age 26.6 +/- 4.9 y, height 184.4 +/- 6.1 cm, body-mass test 1 80.7 +/- 7.7 kg, body-mass test 2 80.4 +/- 7.2 kg, peak oxygen uptake 3.95 +/- 0.43 L/min) performed 2 WAnTs, 1 with and 1 without a standardized 15-min hyperventilation program pre-WAnT in randomized order separated by 1 wk. Results: Compared with the control condition, hyperventilation reduced (all P < .01) pCO(2) (40.5 +/- 2.8 vs 22.5 +/- 1.6 mm Hg) and HCO3-(25.5 +/- 1.7 vs 22.7 +/- 1.6 mmol/L) and increased (all P < .01) pH (7.41 +/- 0.01 vs 7.61 +/- 0.03) and actual base excess (1.4 +/- 1.4 vs 3.2 +/- 1.6 mmol/L) pre-WAnT with an ergogenic effect on WAnT average power (681 +/- 41 vs 714 +/- 44 W) and total metabolic energy (138 +/- 12 vs. 144 +/- 13 kJ) based on an increase in glycolytic energy (81 +/- 13 vs 88 +/- 13 kJ). Conclusion: Hyperventilation-induced respiratory alkalosis can enhance WAnT cycling sprint performance well in the magnitude of what is seen after successful bicarbonate ingestion.