The Impact of Individualizing Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Strategies on World-Class Rowing Performance

Contemporary meta-analyses have generally demonstrated a positive effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) supplementation on exercise performance. However, despite these claims, there is limited data on contrasting individualized and standardized timing of NaHCO(3) ingestion prior to exercise to further enhance performance outcomes. Purpose: To determine whether NaHCO(3) ingestion timing impacts 2,000-m rowing time-trial (TT) performance in elite-level rowers (Senior National team including Olympic/World Championships level) adhering to their own individualized pre-race strategies (e.g. nutrition, warm-up, etc.). Methods: Twenty three (n = 23) rowers across two research centers (using the exact same methods/protocols) completed three trials: NaHCO(3) loading profile at rest to determine the individual's time-to-peak bicarbonate concentration [[Formula: see text]], followed by two randomized 0.3 g·kgBM(−1) NaHCO(3) supplementation experimental trials conducted at different time points [consensus timing (CON): TT performed 60 min post-NaHCO(3) ingestion; and individualized peak (IP): TT performed at the rower's individual peak [[Formula: see text]] determined from the profiling trial post-NaHCO(3) ingestion]. Results: There was a significant mean difference of +2.9 [± 0.4 mmol·L(−1) [Formula: see text] for IP vs. CON (95% CI 2.0 to 3.8 mmol·L(−1)); p = 0.02; d = 1.08] at pre warm-up, but not immediately prior to the TT (post warm-up). Performance times were significantly different between IP (367.0 ± 10.5 s) vs. CON (369.0 ± 10.3 s); p = 0.007; d = 0.15). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a small but significant performance effect of an individualized NaHCO(3) ingestion strategy. Similarities after warm-up between pre-TT [Formula: see text] values (CON ~ + 5.5 mmol·L(−1); IP ~ + 6 mmol·L(−1)), however, would suggest this effect was not a result of any meaningful differences in blood alkalinity.