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 (NaHCO₃) supplementation on exercise performance. However, despite these claims, there is limited data on contrasting individualized and standardized timing of NaHCO₃ ingestion prior to exercise to further enhance performance outcomes. Purpose: To determine whether NaHCO₃ 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: NaHCO₃ loading profile at rest to determine the individual's time-to-peak bicarbonate concentration [ ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ ], followed by two randomized 0.3 g·kgBM^-1 NaHCO₃ supplementation experimental trials conducted at different time points [consensus timing (CON): TT performed 60 min post-NaHCO₃ ingestion; and individualized peak (IP): TT performed at the rower's individual peak [ ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ ] determined from the profiling trial post-NaHCO₃ ingestion]. Results: There was a significant mean difference of +2.9 [± 0.4 mmol·L^-1 ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ 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 NaHCO₃ ingestion strategy. Similarities after warm-up between pre-TT ${\text{sHCO}}_3^{-}$ 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.