# Effect of sodium bicarbonate ingestion during 6 weeks of HIIT on anaerobic performance of college students

PMID: 30987663
Journal: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Published: 2019 Apr 15
Authors: Wang J, Qiu J, Yi L, Hou Z, Benardot D, Cao W

## Question

Does chronic sodium bicarbonate supplementation during 6 weeks of HIIT enhance anaerobic performance and recovery markers in healthy college-age men?

## Summary

Twenty healthy college-age men completed 6 weeks of HIIT while consuming either sodium bicarbonate or placebo on training days. Sodium bicarbonate increased blood bicarbonate and was associated with better relative Wingate peak power and faster lactate clearance after training, while heart-rate recovery improved in both groups.

## Population

- Healthy college-age male participants
- Sample size: 20
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: Healthy college-age men; not elite athletes
- Health status: Healthy

## Methodology

- Randomized placebo-controlled supplementation plus HIIT training study
- 6 weeks
- Beijing Sport University exercise laboratory
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- HIIT plus sodium bicarbonate.
- Modality: HIIT.
- Intensity: Lower intensity first 3 weeks, higher intensity second 3 weeks.
- Frequency: 3 days/week.
- Program length: 6 weeks.
- Progression: Two stages with higher intensity in weeks 4-6.
- HIIT plus placebo.
- Modality: HIIT.
- Intensity: Same as intervention.
- Frequency: 3 days/week.
- Program length: 6 weeks.
- Progression: Same as intervention.

## Outcomes

### Bicarbonate
Status: improved
Serum bicarbonate was higher in the supplemented group before and after selected HIIT sessions.

p<0.05.

### Peak power
Status: improved
Relative Wingate peak power was higher in the sodium bicarbonate group after 6 weeks.

p<0.01.

### Lactate clearance
Status: improved
Lactate clearance rate and velocity after 10 minutes were higher in the sodium bicarbonate group.

p<0.01.

### HR recovery
Status: no clear change
Heart-rate recovery improved in both groups, with no between-group difference.

SB p<0.01; PL p<0.05 within groups.

## Practical Insights

- Bicarbonate is an ergogenic-aid variable, not a core HIIT design element.
- Six-week HIIT blocks can progress intensity midway, but the exact workout prescription was insufficiently extracted for app replication.

## Limitations

- Small male-only sample
- Unclear full HIIT session details
- Supplement-specific findings
- No detailed GI adverse-event reporting

## Safety And Adherence

- Article background notes inappropriate bicarbonate dosage can cause nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30987663/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0285-8) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6466775/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.