The Impact of Individualizing Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Strategies on World-Class Rowing Performance

Abstract

Contemporary meta-analyses have generally demonstrated a positive effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) supplementation on exercise performance. However, despite these claims, there is limited data on contrasting individualized and standardized timing of NaHCO₃ ingestion prior to exercise to further enhance performance outcomes. Purpose: To determine whether NaHCO₃ ingestion timing impacts 2,000-m rowing time-trial (TT) performance in elite-level rowers (Senior National team including Olympic/World Championships level) adhering to their own individualized pre-race strategies (e.g. nutrition, warm-up, etc.). Methods: Twenty three (n = 23) rowers across two research centers (using the exact same methods/protocols) completed three trials: NaHCO₃ loading profile at rest to determine the individual's time-to-peak bicarbonate concentration [ ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ ], followed by two randomized 0.3 g·kgBM^-1 NaHCO₃ supplementation experimental trials conducted at different time points [consensus timing (CON): TT performed 60 min post-NaHCO₃ ingestion; and individualized peak (IP): TT performed at the rower's individual peak [ ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ ] determined from the profiling trial post-NaHCO₃ ingestion]. Results: There was a significant mean difference of +2.9 [± 0.4 mmol·L^-1 ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ for IP vs. CON (95% CI 2.0 to 3.8 mmol·L^-1); p = 0.02; d = 1.08] at pre warm-up, but not immediately prior to the TT (post warm-up). Performance times were significantly different between IP (367.0 ± 10.5 s) vs. CON (369.0 ± 10.3 s); p = 0.007; d = 0.15). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a small but significant performance effect of an individualized NaHCO₃ ingestion strategy. Similarities after warm-up between pre-TT ${\text{sHCO}}_3^{-}$ values (CON ~ + 5.5 mmol·L^-1; IP ~ + 6 mmol·L^-1), however, would suggest this effect was not a result of any meaningful differences in blood alkalinity.

Keywords: elite athletes; individualized nutrition; performance; sodium bicarbonate ingestion; time trial performance.

Figure 1

Study overview.

Figure 2

(A) Week-to-week standard bicarbonate concentrations ([${\text{sHCO}}_3^{-}$]) (mean ± SD: black; individual data: light gray) observed during the pilot study [n = 8; (A)]; (B): Individual (n = 23) participant measurements of peak and corresponding time-to-peak as observed during the Individualized NaHCO₃ Loading Profile trial. Each individual's time-to-peak was subsequently used to demarcate the time frame prior to commencing the time trial (TT) in the Individualized Peak (IP) trial.

Figure 3

(A–C) Blood acid-base and lactate (BLa) measurements obtained at baseline (Base; with the exception of BLa), pre-warm-up (Pre-WU), 1 min post lactate push (Post-Push), pre time trial (Pre-TT) and 1 min post completion of the TT (Post-TT). Individual and mean ± SD data are presented for both the consensus standard (CON; gray dots) and individualized peak (IP; open black circles) trials.

Figure 4

Two thousand-metres rowing time trial (TT) performance times in seconds (individual and mean ± SD data) for both the consensus standard (CON; gray bar) and individualized peak (IP; open black border) trials (left). Individual time differences (+ or – in (s) from CON) are presented in the figure on the right.

Figure 5

Summed descriptive (individual and mean ± SD) symptom data collated from the GI questionnaire (0–100 point visual analog scale) prior to the start of the 2,000-m TT (Pre-TT) and upon completion (Post-TT) for both the consensus standard (CON; gray bar) and individualized peak (IP; open black border) trials.