Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation in Combat Sports Athletes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of 10-day sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and placebo (PLA) supplementation on physical and specific performance capacity, as well as concentrations of the selected biochemical blood markers in trained combat sports athletes, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Detailed Description
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Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was proposed as an ergogenic agent, because it improves high-intensity and resistance exercise performance. Until now the major limitation to NaHCO3 supplementation has been the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of chronic, progressive-dose NaHCO3 ingestion on physical capacity and specific performance capacity, and concentrations of the selected biochemical blood markers in trained combat sports athletes, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Official Title
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The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical and Specific Performance Capacity in Combat Sports Athletes

Conditions
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Supplementation, Sport

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Sodium bicarbonate supplementation
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo treatment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: written informed consent from all participants before the study (included aslo informed consents to the participation in the study of athletes under the age of 18 obtained from their parents) a current medical clearance to practice sports, training experience: at least 4 years (of combat sport training), minimum of 4 workout sessions (combat sport) a week, Exclusion Criteria: current injury, any health-related contraindication, declared general feeling of being unwell, unwilling to follow the study protocol.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Sodium bicarbonate supplementation<br>Group taking oral NaHCO3 supplementation in a progressive-dose regimen. | Dietary Supplement: Sodium bicarbonate supplementation<br>* The experimental procedure for each athlete included a 10-day NaHCO3 supplementation in a progressive-dose regimen in order to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects (from 25 to 100 mg ∙ kg-1). NaHCO3 was administered in the form of unmarked disk-shaped tablets (Alkala T, SANUM, Poland). The tablets were ingested with at least 250 mL of water and could be either swallowed or dissolved in the mouth. On training days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the evening and 1.5 hours before training session. On rest days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo treatment<br>Group taking oral supplementation with placebo (maltodextrin with NaCl) in a similar tablet form prepared by the same producer as NaHCO3 tablets. | Dietary Supplement: Placebo treatment<br>* The experimental procedure for each athlete included a 10-day placebo administration. Placebo was ingested with at least 250 mL of water. On training days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the evening and 1.5 hours before training session. On rest days the supplements were taken in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in anaerobic capacity after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes in specific performance capacity after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | The wrestler's special endurance test - projective test with dummy (DT) | Baseline and after 10 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes of lactate and pyruvate concentration in blood after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | Lactate [mmol/L] and pyruvate [mmol/L] concentration analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity in blood after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | Creatine kinase [U/L] and lactate dehydrogenase [U/L] activity analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes in blood glucose and hemoglobin concentration after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | Hemoglobin (Hb) [g/dl] and glucose [g/dl] concentration analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes in blood hematocrit levels after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | Hematocrit (HCT) [%] level analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes of red and white blood cell concentration in blood after sodium bicarbonate supplementation | Red blood cells (RBC) [mln/mm³] and white blood cells (WBC) [mln/mm³] concentration analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes in polyphenols and albumin concentration | Polyphenols [g/L] and and albumin [g/L] concentration analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 
| Changes in FRAP concentration | FRAP [µmol/L] concentration analysis | Baseline and after 10 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, Combat Sports, Physical capacity, Dummy test