KAY, B. Misconceptions: Bicarbonate as an ergogenic aid? A physical, chemical, mechanistic
viewpoint. Brazilian Journal of Biomotricity, v. 2, n. 4, p. 205-219, 2008. The ergogenic effect of
sodium bicarbonate has been extensively studied. Results have been equivocal. Bicarbonate
(HCO3
-) is widely proposed as having a possible ergogenic effect via an attenuation of exercise
induced acidification, and / or via increased rapidity of lactate export from working muscles.
Lactate is cited as being co-exported with protons, in a 1:1 stoichiometry. With respect to the
model proposing bicarbonate as an ergogenic aid: (a) exercise induced acidosis may not be
deleterious to exercise performance; (b) both [HCO3
-] and [H+] are dependant variables and
therefore unable to be primarily or independently moderated; (c) The finding that ingestion /
infusion of NaHCO3 results in increased lactate export rate from working muscles is not
universal (d) whether or not protons are co-exported from muscle cells with lactate is irrelevant
to [H+] in either case; and finally (e) lactate is not apparently causally involved in muscle fatigue
development. Rather, exercise leads to accumulation of extracellular K+ and intracellular Na+
which may disturb the fluid balance of cells, and the continuing excitability of cells. In
conclusion, the current author suggests that the likely ergogenic agent is the Na+, rather than
the HCO3
-; which may operate by mitigating such osmotic and ionic perturbations. The
ergogenic affect of Na+ appears from an initial investigation, to be maximised when
administered with bicarbonate; as opposed to with chloride, citrate, or lactate.
