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Can Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Improve Combat Sports Performance? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

  • Sports Nutrition (L Cialdella Kam, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To verify the effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation on biochemical and physical measurements of combat sports athletes.

Recent Findings

A systematic review of articles indexed in three databases (PubMed, CAPES journal, and Google Scholar) was carried out until October 2020, using descriptors related to NaHCO3 supplementation in combat sports. First, 38 articles were identified. Next, eight articles were selected through the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale (8 and 9 points). Blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion, Special Judo Fitness Test, Dummy throw, and mean and peak powers for Wingate were evaluated. Random effects meta-analysis was used, the effect size was adjusted by corrected Hedges’ g, and the heterogeneity is explored by I2. The results were obtained through weighted average and 95% CI, and the significance limit was set as p < 0.05.

Summary

NaHCO3 supplementation had a significant effect on increasing blood lactate (p = 0.006) of the athletes studied. However, the performance measures (rating of perceived exertion, power, and specific performance) did not show a significant difference (p ˂ 0.05). In conclusion, NaHCO3 supplementation causes a significant increase in blood lactate, indicating an ergogenic effect on buffer, which can delay the onset of fatigue and contribute to the performance of combat sports athletes. New experimental studies need to be published that assess the effect of acute and chronic NaHCO3 supplementation in specific combat sports tests and in women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Street São Paulo, 745, Governador Valadares, MG, 35010-180, Brazil

    Walesca Agda Silva Miranda, Lindsei Brabec Mota Barreto & Ciro Jose Brito

  2. Laboratory of Psychophysiology and Performance in Sports & Combats, Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, School of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Bianca Miarka

  3. Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Magister en Ciencias la Actividad Física y Deportes Aplicadas al Entrenamiento Rehabilitación y Reintegro Deportivo, Universidad Santo Tomás, Puerto Montt, Chile

    Dany Alexis Sorbazo Soto

  4. Universidad Santo Tomás, Santiago, Chile

    Alexis Espinoza Salinas

  5. Departamento de Educación Física Deportes y Recreación, Facultad de Artes y Educación Física, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencia de La Educación, Santiago, Chile

    Esteban Ariel Aedo Muñoz

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  1. Walesca Agda Silva Miranda
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Correspondence to Ciro Jose Brito.

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Miranda, W.A.S., Barreto, L.B.M., Miarka, B. et al. Can Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Improve Combat Sports Performance? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Curr Nutr Rep 11, 273–282 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-022-00396-2

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