Background

The effects of sodium bicarbonate on muscular strength and muscular endurance are commonly acknowledged as unclear due to the contrasting evidence on the topic.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies exploring the acute effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on muscular strength and endurance.

Methods

A search for studies was performed using five databases. Meta-analyses of standardized mean differences (SMDs) were performed using a random-effects model to determine the effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on muscular strength (assessed by changes in peak force [N], peak torque [N m], or maximum load lifted [kg]) and muscular endurance (assessed by changes in the number of repetitions performed, isokinetic total work, or time to maintain isometric force production). Subgroup meta-analyses were conducted for the muscular endurance of small vs. large muscle groups and muscular strength tested in a rested vs. fatigued state. A random-effects meta-regression analysis was used to explore possible trends in the effects of: (a) timing of sodium bicarbonate ingestion; and (b) acute increase in blood bicarbonate concentration (from baseline to pre-exercise), on muscular endurance and muscular strength.

Results

Thirteen studies explored the effects of sodium bicarbonate on muscular endurance and 11 on muscular strength. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation was found to be ergogenic for muscular endurance (SMD = 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15, 0.59; p = 0.001). The performance-enhancing effects of sodium bicarbonate were significant for both small (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.59; p = 0.025) and large muscle groups (SMD = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.66; p = 0.003). Sodium bicarbonate ingestion was not found to enhance muscular strength (SMD = − 0.03; 95% CI: − 0.18, 0.12; p = 0.725). No significant effects were found regardless of whether the testing was carried out in a rested (SMD = 0.02; 95% CI: − 0.09, 0.13; p = 0.694) or fatigued (SMD = − 0.16; 95% CI: − 0.59, 0.28; p = 0.483) state. No significant linear trends in the effects of timing of sodium bicarbonate ingestion or acute increase in blood bicarbonate concentrations on muscular endurance or muscular strength were found.

Conclusions

Overall, sodium bicarbonate supplementation acutely improves muscular endurance of small and large muscle groups, but no significant ergogenic effect on muscular strength was found.

中文翻译：

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碳酸氢钠补充对肌肉力量和耐力的影响：系统评价和荟萃分析。

背景

由于该主题的证据相反，碳酸氢钠对肌肉力量和肌肉耐力的影响尚不明确。

目的

对研究进行碳酸氢钠对肌肉力量和耐力的急性影响进行系统的审查和荟萃分析。

方法

使用五个数据库进行了研究搜索。使用随机效应模型对标准平均差异（SMD）进行荟萃分析，以确定补充碳酸氢钠对肌肉力量的影响（通过峰值力[N]，峰值扭矩[N m]或最大负荷的变化评估）提升[kg]）和肌肉耐力（通过执行重复次数，等速总功或维持等轴测力产生的时间进行评估）。进行了亚组荟萃分析，以分析小型和大型肌肉组的肌肉耐力，并在休息状态与疲劳状态下测试肌肉强度。使用随机效应荟萃回归分析来探讨以下影响的可能趋势：（a）碳酸氢钠摄入时间；

结果

十三项研究探索了碳酸氢钠对肌肉耐力的影响以及11种对肌肉力量的影响。发现碳酸氢钠补充剂可增强肌肉耐力（SMD = 0.37； 95％置信区间[CI]：0.15、0.59；p = 0.001）。碳酸氢钠对小肌肉群（SMD = 0.31; 95％CI：0.04，0.59; p = 0.025）和大肌肉群（SMD = 0.40; 95％CI：0.13，0.66; p = 0.003 ）均具有显着的性能提升作用。）。碳酸氢钠的摄入未发现增强肌肉力量（SMD =-0.03； 95％CI：-0.18，0.12；p = 0.725）。无论是否在静止状态下进行测试，均未发现明显的影响（SMD = 0.02； 95％CI：-0.09，0.13；p= 0.694）或疲劳（SMD =-0.16; 95％CI：-0.59，0.28; p = 0.483）状态。未发现碳酸氢钠摄入时间或血液中碳酸氢盐浓度急剧增加对肌肉耐力或肌肉力量的线性影响。

结论

总体而言，碳酸氢钠补充剂可显着改善大小肌肉群的肌肉耐力，但未发现对肌肉力量的显着性作用。