Effects of β-alanine and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical Capacity and Biochemical Markers Concentrations

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

BA and SB supplementation: Assigned Interventions: * Beta-alanine (BA) * Sodium bicarbonate (SB) Description: • Participants receive beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate Intervention list \& supplementation details: 1. Beta-alanine (BA) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Pure beta-alanine * Daily dose: 6.4 g/day * Dosing schedule: Four equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 1 to 28 2. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Pure sodium bicarbonate * Daily dose: 0.3 g/kg body mass per day * Dosing schedule: Three equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 21 to 28 of BA or PL1 supplementation Rationale: • This group tests the combined effects of BA and SB

BA and PL2 supplementation: Participants in this intervention group will undergo chronic supplementation with beta-alanine (BA) and an inert placebo (PL2) matched to the sodium bicarbonate (SB) protocol. * Beta-alanine (pure, in gelatin capsules) will be administered at a total daily dose of 6.4 g, divided into four servings taken with meals, over a period of 28 consecutive days. * PL2 (placebo matched to SB, in gelatin capsules) will be administered from Day 21 to Day 28 of beta-alanine supplementation, at a daily dose of 0.3 g per kg of body mass, divided into three equal servings taken with meals. This group allows for evaluation of the isolated effects of BA supplementation when combined with a placebo comparator to SB

PL1 and SB supplementation: Assigned Interventions: * Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Sodium bicarbonate (SB) Description: • Participants receive only sodium bicarbonate as the active compound and placebo capsules matching the BA protocol. Intervention list \& supplementation details: 1. Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Inert substance matched in appearance and dosing schedule to BA * Daily dose: 6.4 g/day * Dosing schedule: Four equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 1 to 28 2. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Pure sodium bicarbonate * Daily dose: 0.3 g/kg body mass per day * Dosing schedule: Three equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 21 to 28 of BA or PL1 supplementation Rationale: • This group tests the isolated effects of SB

PL1 and PL2 supplementation: Assigned Interventions: * Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Placebo matched to SB (PL2) Description: • Participants receive two matched placebos. Intervention list \& supplementation details: 1. Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Inert substance matched in appearance and dosing schedule to BA * Daily dose: 6.4 g/day * Dosing schedule: Four equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 1 to 28 2. Placebo matched to SB (PL2) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Inert substance matched in appearance and timing to SB * Daily dose: 0.3 g/kg body mass per day * Dosing schedule: Three equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 21 to 28 of BA or PL1 supplementation Rationale: • This serves as the control group for comparison with all active intervention arms.

Study summary

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study aims to evaluate the potential synergistic effect of beta-alanine (BA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation, compared to their separate administration or placebo (PL), on physical performance and selected blood biochemical markers in highly trained female basketball players.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Changes in anaerobic capacity during Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) — During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
  Assessment of peak power (PP), average power (AP), minimum power (MP), power drop (PD) \[W (Watts)\] using the Monark 894E ergometer (measured before and after incremental cycling test (ICT)) before and after supplementation (BA - beta-alanine; SB - sodium bicarbonate; PL - placebo; with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
• Changes in Countermovement Jump (CMJ) performance — During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
  Assessment of three consecutive countermovement jump (CMJ) heights \[cm (centimetres)\] using the Microgate system, measured at rest and after the entire exercise procedure, both before and after supplementation.
• Changes in aerobic capacity during incremental cycling test (ICT) — During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
  Assessment of time to exhaustion \[s (seconds)\] during an incremental cycling test (ICT) using Ergoline E100P-K, measured before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
• Changes in blood bicarbonate, base excess, anion gap, and lactate concentrations — During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
  Assessment of bicarbonate, base excess, anion gap, lactate \[mmol/L\] measured in capillary blood at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
• Changes in hydrogen ion concentration — During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
  Assessment of hydrogen ion concentration \[nmol/L\] measured in capillary blood at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).

Trial sites (1)

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