The ergogenic effect of beta-alanine combined with sodium bicarbonate on high-intensity swimming performance

Author(s)

Painelli, Vitor de Salles ^[1] ; Roschel, Hamilton ^[1] ; de Jesus, Flavia ^[1] ; Sale, Craig ^[2] ; Harris, Roger Charles ^[3] ; Solis, Marina Yazigi ^[1] ; Benatti, Fabiana Braga ^[1] ; Gualano, Bruno ^[1] ; Lancha, Jr., Antonio Herbert ^[1] ; Artioli, Guilherme Giannini ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sports, Dept Biodynam, Lab Appl Nutr & Metab, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Nottingham Trent Univ, Biomed Life & Hlth Sci Res Ctr, Nottingham NG11 8NS - England

^[3] Junipa Ltd, Newmarket, Suffolk - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY NUTRITION AND METABOLISM; v. 38, n. 5, p. 525-532, MAY 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 38

Abstract

We investigated the effect of beta-alanine (BA) alone (study A) and in combination with sodium bicarbonate (SB) (study B) on 100- and 200-m swimming performance. In study A, 16 swimmers were assigned to receive either BA (3.2g.day(-1) for 1 week and 6.4 g.day(-1) for 4 weeks) or placebo (PL; dextrose). At baseline and after 5 weeks of supplementation, 100- and 200-m races were completed. In study B, 14 were assigned to receive either BA (3.2 g.day(-1) for 1 week and 6.4 g.day(-1) for 3 weeks) or PL. Time trials were performed once before and twice after supplementation (with PL and SB), in a crossover fashion, providing 4 conditions: PL-PL, PL-SB, BA-PL, and BA-SB. In study A, BA supplementation improved 100- and 200-m time-trial performance by 2.1% (p = 0.029) and 2.0% (p = 0.0008), respectively. In study B, 200-m time-trial performance improved in all conditions, compared with presupplementation, except the PL-PL condition (PL-SB, +2.3%; BA-PL, +1.5%; BA-SB, +2.13% (p < 0.05)). BA-SB was not different from BA-PL (p = 0.21), but the probability of a positive effect was 78.5%. In the 100-m time-trial, only a within-group effect for SB was observed in the PL-SB (p = 0.022) and BA-SB (p = 0.051) conditions. However, 6 of 7 athletes swam faster after BA supplementation. The probability of BA having a positive effect was 65.2%; when SB was added to BA, the probability was 71.8%. BA and SB supplementation improved 100-and 200-m swimming performance. The coingestion of BA and SB induced a further nonsignificant improvement in performance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/11221-0 - Artificial elevation of muscle buffering capacity: effects upon muscle performance and function and underlying mechanisms
• Grantee: Antonio Herbert Lancha Junior
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/17059-2 - Effects of beta-alanine supplementation combined or not with sodium bicarbonate on intermittent anaerobic performance
• Grantee: Guilherme Giannini Artioli
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate