Sodium bicarbonate ingestion increases glycolytic contribution and improves performance during simulated taekwondo combat

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) on performance and estimated energy system contribution during simulated taekwondo combat.

Methods: Nine taekwondo athletes completed two experimental sessions separated by at least 48 h. Athletes consumed 300 mg/kg body mass of NaHCO₃ or placebo (CaCO₃) 90 min before the combat simulation (three rounds of 2 min separated by 1 min passive recovery), in a double-blind, randomized, repeated-measures crossover design. All simulated combat was filmed to quantify the time spent fighting in each round. Lactate concentration [La^-] and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured before and after each round, whereas heart rate (HR) and the estimated contribution of the oxidative (W_OXI), ATP (adenosine triphosphate)-phosphocreatine (PCr) (W_PCR), and glycolytic (W_[La^-]) systems were calculated during the combat simulation.

Results: [La^-] increased significantly after NaHCO₃ ingestion, when compared with the placebo condition (+14%, P = 0.04, d = 3.70). NaHCO₃ ingestion resulted in greater estimated glycolytic energy contribution in the first round when compared with the placebo condition (+31%, P = 0.01, d = 3.48). Total attack time was significantly greater after NaHCO₃ when compared with placebo (+13%, P = 0.05, d = 1.15). W_OXI, W_PCR, VO₂, HR and RPE were not different between conditions (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: NaHCO₃ ingestion was able to increase the contribution of glycolytic metabolism and, therefore, improve performance during simulated taekwondo combat.

Keywords: Alkalosis; energy system; taekwondo; time–motion and sports performance.