When we hear “baking soda,” we think of laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and the stuff we put in refrigerators so they don’t smell bad. But baking soda has other uses as well, especially in regard to fitness and fatigue.
The Chemistry of Sodium Bicarbonate
There are a few things about chemistry you need to know before discussing baking soda (I promise it’s not crazy). First, a few facts:
- Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate
- This is written as NaHCO3 chemically.
- Baking soda is alkaline, or basic.
Now let’s talk abut buffers. In chemistry, buffers resist pH change by neutralizing added acid or added base. Buffers contain significant amounts of both a weak acid and its conjugate base. A conjugate base is part of a reaction where one part of the compound transforms into the other by gaining or losing a proton. The conjugate base gains or absorbs a proton in this chemical reaction.
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We’ve all heard about lactic acid, but as new science shows, it’s not the cause of muscle fatigue as originally thought. The actual cause of muscle fatigue is the process of an exercise-induced decrease in pH, which is also known as metabolic acidosis. (The lower the pH the higher the acidity.)
Complete fatigue may occur with lactate concentrations between 20 and 25 mmol/L, and some cases more than 30 mmol/L following multiple dynamic-exercise sessions. There are other factors that cause an increase in H+ but since we are strictly talking about lactate, we will stick with this.
Baking Soda and Fatigue
According to Food and Nutrition Sciences, a build-up of acid inside the muscle cell is a factor responsible for muscular fatigue. Thus, the total muscular capacity is limited by the progressive increase in acidity within the muscles caused by an accumulation of lactate and H+ ions. This inhibits energy transfer and the ability of muscles to contract. The body’s defense against this is bicarbonate buffers, which help neutralize the acid produced by intense exercise.
Since baking soda is an alkalizing agent, it reduces the acidity of the blood (the buffering action). This action may be able to draw more of the acid within the muscle cells out into the bloodstream, and thus reduce the level of acidity within the muscle cells. This in turn can delay the onset of fatigue.
“The body’s defense against this is bicarbonate buffers, which help neutralize the acid produced by intense exercise.”
This would benefit athletes whose intensities range between 80-125% of peak oxygen uptake. People within this category regularly stress the anaerobic glycolysis system, which produces a lot of acidity. So, think of your sprinters (swimming, cycling, or running) CrossFitters, Olympic lifters, and even those who do high intensity interval training on a different platform.
Does Baking Soda Prevent Performance Decline?
A study conducted by the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested baking soda supplementation on tennis athletes. Prolonged tennis matches result in fatigue, which invariably impairs skilled performance.
Nine male college tennis players were recruited for this randomized crossover, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The participants consumed baking soda (0.3 g. kg-1) or sodium chloride (0.209g. kg-1). On their third match, the participants were given an additional supplementation of 0.1g. kg-1 of baking soda or 0.07g. kg-1 of sodium chloride. The study called for the Loughborough Tennis Skill Test, which was performed before and after each simulated match.
The Results
- Post-match bicarbonate and base excess were significantly higher in the bicarbonate trial than those in the placebo trial.
- Blood lactate significantly increased in the placebo and bicarbonate groups.
- The match-induced change in blood lactate was significantly higher in the bicarbonate trial.
- Blood pH remained unchanged in the placebo trial, but was significantly increased in the bicarbonate trial (remember the pH scale), which indicated a more alkaline environment.
“This study suggests that bicarbonate supplementation could prevent the decline in skilled tennis performance.”
In regard to tennis performance, service and forehand ground stroke consistency scores declined significantly after the simulated match in the placebo trial, while in the bicarbonate trial these elements were maintained. The match-induced declines in the scores were significantly larger in the placebo trial than those in the bicarbonate trial.
Looking at the forehand and backhand ground strokes combined, the consistency scores showed a trend of decrease after the simulated match in the placebo trial, while it increased slightly in the bicarbonate trial. This study suggests that bicarbonate supplementation could prevent the decline in skilled tennis performance.
Can Baking Soda Enhance Power Output?
A study conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine sought to assess the effect of sodium bicarbonate ingestion upon repeated bouts of intense, short-duration exercise.
Twenty-three subjects participated in this study, which included eight females and fifteen males, aged at 21.4 ±2.3. Subjects completed six trials, three following the ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (300mg/kg bodyweight) and three following the ingestion of a placebo (8g of sodium chloride or salt). Each trial consisted of ten, ten-second sprints on a cycle ergometer with a fifty-second recovery between each sprint.
“Peak power output was also greater in the bicarbonate trial, with it being significantly higher during the final ten-second sprint.”
The bicarbonate trial produced higher mean average power outputs in all ten of the ten-second sprints, with the difference in average power output being statistically significant in eight of these. The results also revealed that the difference in the average power outputs attained during the bicarbonate and placebo trials increased as the number of sprint repetitions increased.
Peak power output was also greater in the bicarbonate trial, with it being significantly higher during the final ten-second sprint. It was concluded that during exercise consisting of repeated, short-duration sprints, power output was enhanced following the ingestion of sodium bicarbonate.
How to Introduce Baking Soda Into Your Life
Some of you may be thinking, “I’m going to buy a huge tub of baking soda and put it on everything.” Please, don’t do that. Ingesting too much baking soda can cause unpleasant side effects such as vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating, and diarrhea. If you don’t drink enough water, vomiting and diarrhea are common side effects. Even small amounts of baking soda can cause GI distress depending on your body. In addition, you should always contact your primary care manager before you add any supplement into your routine.
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Now that I have given you a bit of a disclaimer, the normal recommendation is that you need one liter of water when ingesting 0.3 grams per kilogram of body mass. The water will help with absorption and decrease your chances of GI distress. Baking soda does not linger around the body, so it’s important to take it and work out about an hour or so later. Don’t take it and then train five hours later.
Summary
Baking soda is nothing new. This type of supplementation has been around since the 1970s, but it’s making its way back into the fitness mainstream. The benefit of being able to push through that last bit of a workout and the decreased recovery time may be worth it for you. Plus, baking soda is rather cheap compared to some of the other supplements out there that claim the same effects. Just take a trip to your primary care manager first to clear yourself to introduce this supplementation into your life.
References:
1. Wu, CL., et. al. “Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Prevents Skilled Tennis Performance Decline After a Simulated Match.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2010): 33, accessed October 24, 2014. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-33
2. Shelton, J., et. al. “Sodium Bicarbonate – A Potent Erogoenic Aid?” Food and Nutrition Sciences (2010): 1-4, accessed October 24, 2014. DOI: 10.4236/fns.2010.11001
3. Lavender, G. et al. “Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Ingestion Upon Repeated Sprints.” British Journal of Sports Medicine (1989): 41-45, accessed October 24, 2014. PMCID: PMC1478644
4. Tro, NJ. Principles of Chemistry, A Molecular Approach. (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2010), 80, 598-599
5. Baechle, T. and Earle, R., Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Third Edition. (Illinois: Human Kinetics, 2008), 29-30
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