Sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine supplementation:Is combining both better than either alone? A systematic reviewand meta-analysis

Curran-Bowen, Terence; Guedes da Silva, André; Barreto, Gabriel; Buckley, John; Saunders, Bryan

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of combined beta-alanine (BA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on exercise capacity and performance. Four databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web Of Science and MEDLINE) were searched using relevant terms for studies involving healthy (e.g. no chronic diseases or conditions) male or female adults of any training status (athletes, physically active and nonathletes) and that investigated BA and SB in isolation and combination at any dose on an exercise outcome. Ten studies, totalling 243 individuals, met the criteria with 12 outcomes for each nutritional supplement. No ergogenic effect was detected in this meta-analysis for BA (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI: -0.06; 0.43, p = 0.13, tau2 = 0, tau = 0, I2 = 0.0%) or SB (SMD = 0.17, 95% CI: -0.08; 0.41, p = 0.16, tau2 = 0, tau = 0, I2 = 0.0%) in isolation. However, there was a beneficial effect for the combination of BA and SB (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.07; 0.57, p = 0.02, tau2 = 0, tau = 0, I2 = 0.0%). Meta-regression identified no differences between supplementing with BA or SB separately (F = 0.58; p = 0.57). Combining BA and SB improved exercise performance, however, there was no benefit in taking these supplements individually.

Citation

Curran-Bowen, T., Guedes da Silva, A., Barreto, G., Buckley, J., & Saunders, B. (2024). Sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine supplementation:Is combining both better than either alone? A systematic reviewand meta-analysis. Biology of Sport, 41(3), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2024.132997

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Nov 16, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 2, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 9, 2024
• Journal: Biology of Sport
• Print ISSN: 0860-021X
• Publisher: Termedia Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 79-87
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2024.132997
• Keywords: Ergogenic Aids, Fatigue, Nutrition, Sport, Exercise, Performance
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/874059
• Publisher URL: https://www.termedia.pl/Sodium-bicarbonate-and-beta-alanine-supplementation-r-nIs-combining-both-better-than-either-alone-A-systematic-review-r-nand-meta-analysis,78,51825,0,1.html