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Combined creatine and sodium bicarbonate supplementation enhances interval swimming
This study examined the effect of combined supplementation of sodium bicarbonate and creatine on consecutive maximal swims. Sodium bicarbonate is currently being investigated as a potential ergogenic aid in its ability to buffer the H ions that cause blood acidosis and therefore the feeling of fatigue after intense anaerobic exercise. Creatine can improve the performance of athletes engaging in high intensity activities.
Sixteen competitive male and female swimmers completed in a randomized order, 2 different treatments (placebo and a combination of creatine and sodium bicarbonate) with 30 days of washout period between treatments in a double-blind crossover procedure. Both treatments consisted of placebo or creatine supplementation (20 g per day) in 6 days. In the morning of the seventh day, subjects received the placebo or sodium bicarbonate/creatine supplementation (0.3 g per kg body weight) during two hours before a warm-up for 2 maximal 100-m freestyle swims that were performed with a passive recovery of 10 minutes in between.
Results: The first swims were similar, but the increase in time of the second versus the first 100-m swimming time was 0.9 seconds less in the combination group than in the placebo. Mean blood pH was higher (representing a lower accumulation of lactic acid and therefore, possible delayed time to fatigue) in the combination group than in placebo after supplementation on the test day. Mean blood pH decreased similarly during the swims in both groups. Mean blood lactate increased during the swims, but there were no differences in peak blood lactate between the combination group and placebo. These data indicate that simultaneous supplementation of creatine and sodium bicarbonate enhances performance in consecutive maximal swims.
This study examined the effect of combined supplementation of sodium bicarbonate and creatine on consecutive maximal swims. Sodium bicarbonate is currently being investigated as a potential ergogenic aid in its ability to buffer the H ions that cause blood acidosis and therefore the feeling of fatigue after intense anaerobic exercise. Creatine can improve the performance of athletes engaging in high intensity activities.
Sixteen competitive male and female swimmers completed in a randomized order, 2 different treatments (placebo and a combination of creatine and sodium bicarbonate) with 30 days of washout period between treatments in a double-blind crossover procedure. Both treatments consisted of placebo or creatine supplementation (20 g per day) in 6 days. In the morning of the seventh day, subjects received the placebo or sodium bicarbonate/creatine supplementation (0.3 g per kg body weight) during two hours before a warm-up for 2 maximal 100-m freestyle swims that were performed with a passive recovery of 10 minutes in between.
Results: The first swims were similar, but the increase in time of the second versus the first 100-m swimming time was 0.9 seconds less in the combination group than in the placebo. Mean blood pH was higher (representing a lower accumulation of lactic acid and therefore, possible delayed time to fatigue) in the combination group than in placebo after supplementation on the test day. Mean blood pH decreased similarly during the swims in both groups. Mean blood lactate increased during the swims, but there were no differences in peak blood lactate between the combination group and placebo. These data indicate that simultaneous supplementation of creatine and sodium bicarbonate enhances performance in consecutive maximal swims.