Trial reportEuropean journal of applied physiology2026
The effect of sodium bicarbonate mini-tablets in a carbohydrate hydrogel on prolonged high-intensity cycling performance and metabolism in acute normobaric hypoxia.
Trial report in European journal of applied physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review.European journal of sport science · 2026Pooled it
- Delaying task failure in high-intensity exercise: a Pi-afferent-effort framework for targeted sports nutrition.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026Review
- Common questions and misconceptions of sodium bicarbonate as an ergogenic aid: what does the science really show?Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeHydrogen cation (H+) accumulation is exacerbated in hypoxia. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion can reduce fatigue associated with high-intensity exercise performance by counteracting H+ ion accumulation. The present study aimed to determine the effect of 0.3 g·kg− 1 NaHCO3 mini-tablets in a carbohydrate hydrogel on 40 km cycling time trial (TT) performance in trained male cyclists in acute hypoxia.
methodsFourteen trained male cyclists completed a ramp test to determine VO2Peak. After, in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study, participants completed three 40 km cycling TTs (1 x familiarisation, 2 x experimental) in acute hypoxia (16.7 ± 0.2 FiO2). Each experimental TT followed 90 min after the ingestion of 0.3 g·kg− 1 BM NaHCO3 or an appearance-matched placebo.
resultsAfter NaHCO3 ingestion, 40 km cycling TT performance was improved by 1.2% in comparison to placebo (t = 3.84, p = 0.02, g = 0.19). Additionally, NaHCO3 ingestion raised blood pH (f = 48.47, p = < 0.001, pη2 = 0.79) and blood HCO3− (f = 64.13, p = < 0.001, pη2 = 0.84) pre-exercise and throughout the TT. Aggregated gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) were minimal, and did not differ between conditions (NaHCO3, 110 AU; Placebo, 119 AU; z = 0.38, p = 0.71, r = 0.10).
conclusionThe present study suggests that 0.3 g·kg− 1 NaHCO3 can enhance 40 km cycling TT performance in acute hypoxia, likely a result of improved buffering capacity. Cyclists competing at altitude could consider the ingestion of this form of NaHCO3 to minimise the deleterious effects of acute hypoxia.
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Registered trials
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