Sodium Bicarbonate
Bicarbonate loading buffers blood lactate; well-evidenced for high-intensity & repeated-sprint performance.
enduranceperformancestrength
Evidence last reviewed: 04 Apr 2026
Trade-offs & context
Known concerns, timing considerations, & interactions
Tolerance
GI distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) affects the majority of users at full doses — split dosing or enteric-coated capsules reduce this significantly
Cardiovascular
High sodium load — not suitable for those on sodium-restricted diets or with unmanaged hypertension
Dot colour: ●High concern ●Moderate ● Low / note
Biomarkers studied
Outcomes directly measured across the evidence records below
Performance
Sprint PerformanceTime to Exhaustion
Evidence
1 record
High-intensity & repeated sprint performance
Athletes; trained individuals • Meta-analyses of RCTs
PUBMEDHigh
1–3% improvement in high-intensity performance lasting 1–7 min; strong effect on repeated sprints.
Dose: 17500 mgDuration: Acute (60–90 min pre-exercise)Timing: 60–90 min pre-exercise
GI distress common; start with lower dose; enteric coating helps.
Forms
Sodium bicarbonate powder
0.2–0.3 g/kg body weight.
Enteric-coated capsules
Reduces GI distress; slower absorption.
Stacks containing Sodium Bicarbonate
Public community stacks that include this ingredient.
enduranceperformancestrength
Endurance & Performance Boost
by@athlete
L-arginine & sodium bicarbonate are combined to enhance endurance & performance. L-arginine supports nitric oxide production, improving blood flow, while sodium bicarbonate buffers lactic acid, reducing fatigue during exercise.
L-Arginine
3000mg
Sodium Bicarbonate
500mg
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