Responses To Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation In Repeat Sprint Activity Are Individual

aim of this study was to determine the individual effects of acute sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) supplementation on elite short track speed skating relay race simulation. Material and Method. Double-blindedbalanced, cross-over investigation required two teams of 4 athletes from the Australian National Short Track Speed Skating Program to participate in 2 simulated relay races 72 h apart. Each athlete performed 7 maximal speed skating sprints at a work:rest ratio of ~1:4. Each athlete ingested either 0.3g.kg⁻¹ per body mass of NaHCO₃ or lactose placebo (P) 75 min prior to each race. Plasma blood lactate concentration (Bla) was recorded 10min pre- and 2 min post- race simulation. Race lap times and changes in Bla were log transformed and analyzed using paired sample t-tests between NaHCO₃ and P. Data were also, analysed to evaluate individual response. Magnitudes of differences between conditions were interpreted using effect sizes (ES) and 90% confidence limits (CL). Results. Post-race simulation, Bla concentration demonstrated a very large increase from baseline for both groups. P demonstrated substantially faster performance for overall (ES: 0.98, CL: -0.13 to 1.82), mean lap (ES: 1.59, CL: 0.22 to 2.95), and fastest lap time (ES: 1.26, CL: 0.02 to 2.50) compared to NaHCO₃. Interpretation of the individual analysis indicates that NaHCO₃ results in a greater magnitude of individual variation for total (ES: 1.05, CL: -0.40 to 1.54), mean (ES: 2.04, CL: 0.71 to 2.79), and fastest lap time (ES: 1.85, CL: 0.64 to 2.54) than P. Conclusion. These findings indicate responses to acute NaHCO3 supplementation may be individual.