Effect of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on measures of football performance: with reference to the impact of training status

Purpose: To investigate effects of acutesodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion onperformance during a football-specificprotocol, with reference to mediating effects ofintermittent training status. Methods: Ten maleuniversity football players (age: 21±1 yrs,height: 180±2 cm, mass: 78.8±2.8 kg)completed two six-a-side football matches afteringesting either 0.4 g·kg-1 NaHCO3 (staggeredover 90-min) or no supplement (CON) in arandomised, counterbalanced order. Activityprofiles, blood [lactate], HR and gastrointestinal distress determined throughout.Training status was evaluated using Yo-YoIR1,Yo-YoIR2 and repeated-sprint tests. Results:Players performed 70.3% more high-speedrunning (17-21 km·h-1) during 0-5minfollowing NaHCO3 ingestion vs. CON(17.9±5.2 vs. 10.5±3.1 m, P<0.05). No othersignificant activity profile differences, including high-intensity running (HIR;>14km·hr-1), existed between conditionsduring any period (P>0.05). However, totalHIR increased for 70% of participantsfollowing NaHCO3 vs. CON (P>0.05). Largevery large correlations (0.5<r<0.9) existedbetween training status measures and HIRimprovement from CON to NaHCO3 duringcertain match periods (P<0.05). Conclusions:Acute NaHCO3 ingestion appears ergogenicfor some, but not all, football performancemeasures. Furthermore, individual variabilityin HIR response suggests this ergogenicpotential is not realised by everyone.Correlational analysis suggests higherintermittent training status may potentiateNaHCO3 efficacy.