Bicarbonate supplementation via lactate efflux improves anaerobic and cognitive performance in elite combat sport athletes

Jakub Chycki; Adam Zajac; Michał Toborek

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2020.96320

Bicarbonate supplementation via lactate efflux improves anaerobic and cognitive performance in elite combat sport athletes

Biol Sport. 2021 Oct;38(4):545-553. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2020.96320. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Authors

Jakub Chycki¹, Adam Zajac¹, Michał Toborek²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 40-065 Katowice, Mikolowska 72a, Poland.
² Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.

Abstract

The aim of this study was the assessment of sodium bicarbonate supplementation (NaHCO₃ ^-) on anaerobic and cognitive performance, assuming ergogenic effect of HCO₃ by improving buffering capacity and greater lactate efflux, which may have indirect effect on circulating neurotrophin level (e.g BDNF, IGF-1) and memory. Sixteen well-trained judo athletes completed a randomized trial of either a NaHCO₃ ^- (EG) (5000 mg x 2/day/90 min before training)or placebo for 21 days (CG). Before and after treatment, athletes completed double Wingate test (Wt) protocol following which they performed perceived Working Memory test (pWM). Results suggested significant increase in Upper Limb Total Work (with p = 0.011), Mean Power (with p = 0.001), post exercise LA concentration (from 15.51 mmol/L to 18.10 mmol/L with p = 0.01) and HCO3_rest concentrations (from 27.37 mmol/l to 28.91 mmol/l with p = 0.001), when compared to baseline values in EG. The analysis showed statistically significant increase in values for IGF-1 (with p = 0.001) and decrease for cortisol and BDNF (with p = 0.001) in EG and CG, when pre and post exercise values were compared. We also revealed statistically significant decrease in values for display time after ingestion of HCO₃ between pre and post exercise (with p = 0.002) In conclusion, the lack of a substantial relationship between exerkines (IGF-1, BDNF) and memory in the present study might suggest that exercise induced lactate levels is dominant mechanism improving working memory in well-train athletes.

Keywords: Anaerobic performance; BDNF; Bicarbonate; Cognitive function; Lactate metabolism.