Athlete, Healthy, Performance, Well-trained Athletes
Conditions
Keywords
Bicarbonate, Endurance training, Cycling, Time trial
Brief summary
This study is investigating whether taking sodium bicarbonate, a common supplement used by endurance athletes, can improve cycling performance during prolonged exercise and in a time trial. Sodium bicarbonate may help reduce muscle acidity, which could delay fatigue and improve performance. The goal of this study is to determine if this supplement can help athletes perform better during long, intense efforts like those seen in real competitions. Participants in this study are well-trained cyclists who will complete two exercise trials in a laboratory setting. Each trial involves three hours of moderate cycling followed by a 20-30-minute time trial at maximum effort. Before each trial, participants will take either sodium bicarbonate or a placebo. The study will measure performance outcomes, such as time trial results, as well as physiological responses, including heart rate, oxygen use, and muscle fatigue. Researchers hope to better understand how sodium bicarbonate can help endurance athletes and provide guidelines for its use in competitive sports.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo then Verum
Intake of 0.3 g/kg bodyweight of maltodextrin with hydrogel as placebo and 0.3 g/kg bodyweight of sodium bicarbonate with hydrogel as Verum
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTVerum then Placebo
Intake of 0.3 g/kg bodyweight of maltodextrin with hydrogel as placebo and 0.3 g/kg bodyweight of sodium bicarbonate with hydrogel as Verum
Sponsors
University of Salzburg
Red Bull Athlete Performance Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Intervention model description
Double blinded two-intervention crossover study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* age 16-50 years * well-trained cyclists * Proof of physical fitness (e.g. sports medical examination required) for measurements with higher intensities (e.g. endurance tests, competition simulation) * \>10h endurance training per week
Exclusion criteria
* Systemic disease or other known pathology in the organs: heart, lungs, kidney, stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder, and intestines. * Evidence of pulmonary disease: forced expiratory volume in one second/forced expiratory volume \< 70% with/without symptoms (cough, sputum) or other evidence of pulmonologic disease. Diabetes II.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance performance | 20-30 minutes, immediately after completion of the time trial for each condition (Placebo and Verum), assessed on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in time trial performance (average power in watts) between placebo and verum condition |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in questionnaire score - gastrointestinal symptoms | 6.5 hours (rest, breakfast, every 30min during 3-hour low-intensity, after TT) for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in questionnaire score gastrointestinal symptoms between placebo and verum condition (0-10, higher score indicates more severe symptoms). |
| Difference in questionnaire score - Energy & Confidence | 3 hours (every 30min during 3-hour low-intensity) for each condition (Placebo and Verum), assessed on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in questionnaire score energy and confidence in time trial performance between placebo and verum condition (0-10, higher score indicates more Energy or Confidence in time trial performance). |
| Difference in questionnaire score - rate of perceived exertion | 3.5 hours (every 30min during 3-hour low-intensity, after TT) for each condition (Placebo and Verum), assessed on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in questionnaire score overall and legs only perceived exertion between placebo and verum condition (0-10, higher score indicates a higher degree of perceived exertion). |
| Difference in blood count | 6.5 hours (rest, every 30min during 3-hour low-intensity, after TT) for each condition (Placebo and Verum), assessed on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in capillary blood count between placebo and verum condition |
| Difference in pH & HCO3 kinetics | 6.5 hours (rest, breakfast, every 30min during 3-hour low-intensity, after TT) for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in pH \& HCO3 kinetics between placebo, verum and resting verum condition |
| Difference in heart rate | 3.5 hours, assessed continuously (every second) during 3 hour low-intensity and TT for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in heart rate (bpm) between placebo and verum condition |
| Difference in oxygen uptake | 3 hours, assessed for 5 min every 30 min during 3 hour low-intensity for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in oxygen uptake (ml/kg/min) between placebo and verum condition |
| Difference in blood lactate concentration | 3.5 hours, assessed every 30 min during 3 hour low-intensity and after TT for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) between placebo and verum condition. |
| Difference in substrate utilization | 3 hours, assessed for 5 min every 30 min during 3 hour low-intensity for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in substrate utilization between placebo and verum condition. |
| Difference in ventilation | 3 hours, assessed for 5 min every 30 min during 3 hour low-intensity for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in ventilation (L/min) between placebo and verum condition |
| Difference in core body temperature | 3.5 hours, assessed continuously during 3 hour low-intensity and TT for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in core body temperature (°) between placebo and verum condition. |
| Difference in muscle oxygenation | 3.5 hours, assessed continuously during 3 hour low-intensity and TT for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in muscle oxygenation (SmO2) of the vastus lateralis between placebo and verum condition. |
| Difference in glucose level | 24 hours, assessed continuously for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in glucose level (mg/dl) between placebo and verum condition. |
| Difference in sodium content | 3.5 hours, assessed during 3 hour low-intensity and TT for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in sodium content (mg/hr) between placebo and verum condition |
| Difference in sweat rate | 3.5 hours, assessed during 3 hour low-intensity and TT for each condition (Placebo and Verum), on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in sweat rate (L/hr) between placebo and verum condition. |
| Difference in next morning weight | 24 hours, assessed in the morning for each condition (Placebo and Verum) and the following day, on test day 1 and test day 2 respectively, with a washout period of 3-7 days between appointments (test days). | Difference in weight (kg) measured in the morning of the test day and the following day (before breakfast after urination and defecation) |
Countries
Austria
Outcome results
None listed