Summary
The use of sodium bicarbonate to improve anaerobic performance is well known but other buffering agents have been used with some success. Sodium citrate is one such substance which has been used but without the normal gastro-intestinal discomfort usually associated with sodium bicarbonate ingestion. The effects of five doses of sodium citrate (0.1 g·kg−1 body mass, 0.2 g·kg−1 body mass, 0.3 g·kg−1 body mass, 0.4 g·kg−1 body mass and 0.5 g·kg−1 body mass) on anaerobic performance were studied in order to determine the minimal and most productive dose required for performance enhancement. A maximal test was performed for 1−1, min on a cycle ergometer. Total work and peak power were measured at the end of the exercise period. Blood was drawn 1.5 h prior to the test session and measured for pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and concentrations of bicarbonate, base excess and lactate. In all but the control and placebo trials subjects then ingested one of five doses of sodium citrate which was contained in 400 ml of flavoured drink. Blood was again taken 90 min later and this was repeated after the completion of the exercise test. The greatest amount of work was completed in the trial with citrate given at 0.5 g·kg−1 body mass (44.63 kJ, SD 1.5) and this was also true for peak power (1306 W, SD 75). The post-exercise blood lactate concentration was also highest during this trial 15.9 mmol·1−1, SD 1.1. Post-exercise pH decreased significantly in all trials (P<0.0001) while the administration of the sodium citrate in all doses above 0.1 g·kg−1 body mass significantly increased resting pH values. Blood bicarbonate concentrations also increased with dose in an almost linear fashion with the administration of sodium citrate. Bicarbonate increases were all significant, P<0.05 (citrate 0.1 g·kg−1 body mass), P<0.01 (citrate 0.2 g·kg−1 body mass, 0.3 g·kg−1 body mass and 0.4 g·kg−1 body mass) and P<0.005 (citrate 0.5 g·kg−1 body mass). The administration of sodium citrate also significantly increased base excess values (citrate 0.1 g·kg−1 body mass,P<0.01; 0.2 g·kg−1body mass, P<0.001; 0.3 g·kg−1 body mass, P<0.001; 0.4 g·kg−1 body mass, P<0.001; 0.5 g·kg−1 body mass, P<0.0001) above control and placebo values. All post-exercise base excess values were significantly lower than basal or pre-exercise values (P<0.0001). It was concluded that sodium citrate was an effective ergogenic aid for anaerobic performance of approximately 60-s duration, with the most effective of those dosages tested being 0.5 g·kg−1 body mass.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bouissou P, Defer G, Guezennec CY, Estrade PY, Serrurier B (1988) Metabolic and blood catecholamine responses to exercise during alkalosis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 20:228–232
Bozzuto TM (1988) Severe metabolic acidosis secondary to exertional hyperlactemia. Am J Emerg Med 6:134–136
Costill DL, Verstappen F, Kuipers H, Janssen E, Fink W (1984) Acid base balance during repeated bouts of exercise: influences of HCO3. Int J Sports Med 5:228–231
Donaldson SKB, Hermansen L (1978) Differential direct effects of H+ and Ca2+-activated force of skinned fibres from the soleus, cardiac, adductor magnus muscle of rabbits. Pflügers Arch 376:55–65
Fabiato A, Fabiato F (1978) Effects of pH on the myofilaments and the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned cells from cardiac and skeletal muscles. J Physiol 276:233–235
Forster HV, Dempsey JA, Thompson J, Vidruk E, do Pico GA (1972) Estimation of arterial PO2, PCO2, pH and lactate from arterialized venous blood. J Appl Physiol 32:134–137
Goldfinch J, McNaughton LR, Davies P (1985) Bicarbonate ingestion and its effects upon 400-m racing time. Eur J Appl Physiol 57:45–48
Harrison GG, Buskirk ER, Carter JEL, Johnston FE, Lohman TG, Pollock ML, Roche AAF, Wilmore J (1988) Skinfold thickness and measurement technique. In: Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R (eds) Anthropometric standardization reference manual. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill.
Hawk PB, Oser B, Sumerson W (1947) Practical physiological chemistry. Churchill Press, London
Hermansen L (1969) Anaerobic energy release. Med Sci Sports 1:32–38
Horswill CA, Costill DL, Fink WJ, Flynn MG, Kirwan JP, Mitchell JB, Houmard JA (1988) Influence of sodium bicarbonate on sprint performance, relationship to dosage. Med Sci Sports Exerc 20:566–569
Jacobs I, Tesch PA, Bar-Or O, Karlsson J, Dotan R (1983) Lactate in human skeletal muscle after 10 and 30 s of supramaximal exercise. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 55:365–367
Johnson WR, Black DH (1953) Comparison of effects of certain blood alkalinizer and glucose upon competitive endurance performance. J Appl Physiol 5:577–578
Jones NL, Sutton JR, Taylor R, Toews CJ (1977) Effect of pH on cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to exercise. J Appl Physiol 43:959–964
Katz A, Costill DL, King DS, Hargreaves M, Fink WJ (1984) Maximal exercise tolerance after induced alkalosis. Int J Sports Med 5:107–110
Keppel G (1982) Design and analysis: a researcher's handbook (2nd edn) Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Kindermann W, Keul J, Huber G (1977) Physical exercise after induced alkalosis (bicarbonate and Tris-buffer). Eur J Appl Physiol 37:197–204
Mainwood GW, Cechetto D (1980) The effect of bicarbonate concentration on fatigue and recovery in isolated rat diaphragm. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 58:624–632
Margaria R, Aghemo P, Sassi G (1971) Effects of alkalosis on performance and lactate formation in supramaximal exercise. Int Z Angew Physiol 29:215–223
McCartney N, Heigenhauser GFC, Jones NL (1983) Effects of pH on maximal power output and fatigue during short term dynamic exercise. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 55:225–229
McKenzie DC, Coutts KD, Stirling DR, Hoeben HH, Kuzara G (1986) Masximal work production following two levels of artificially induced metabolic alkalosis. J Sports Sci 4:35–38
McLellan TM, Gass GC (1989) Metabolic and cardio-respiratory responses relative to the anaerobic threshold. Med Sci Sports Exerc 21:191–198
McNaughton LR, Curtin R, Goodman G, Perry D, Turner B, Showell C Anaerobic work and power output during cycle ergometer exercise: effects of bicarbonate loading (in press)
Medbo JI, Sejersted OM (1985) Acid-base and electrolyte balance after exhausting exercise in endurance-trained and sprint-trained subjects. Acta Physiol Scand 125:97–109
Parry-Billings M, MacLaren DPM (1986) The effect of sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate ingestion on anaerobic power during intermittent exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 55:224–229
Robertson RJ, Falkel JE, Drash AL, Swank AM, Metz KF, Spungen SA, LeBoeuf JR (1987) Effect of induced alkalosis on physical work capacity during arm and leg exercise. Ergonomics 30:19–31
Robin ED (1961) Of men and mitochondria: intracellular and sub-cellular acid-base relations. N Engl J Med 265:780–785
Simmons RWF, Hardt AB (1973) The effect of alkali ingestion on the performance of trained swimmers. J Sports Med 13:159–163
Telford RD, Minikin B, Hooper LA (1985) The tri level profile of general fitness. Repco Cycle Company, Canberra, Australia
Wilkes D, Gledhill N, Smyth R (1983) Effect of acute induced metabolic alkalosis on 800-m racing time. Med Sci Sports Exerc 15:277–280
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McNaughton, L.R. Sodium citrate and anaerobic performance: implications of dosage. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 61, 392–397 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236058
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236058