How Drinking Glucose-Electrolyte and Sodium Bicarbonate Together May Affect Performance in Long, Repeated Exercise

Blood lactate concentration was greatest during exercise for sodium bicarbonate and combined glucose and sodium bicarbonate ingestion.

• Blood pH and bicarbonate levels were significantly higher after sodium bicarbonate and combined ingestion compared to placebo and glucose.
• Sodium bicarbonate and combined ingestion resulted in greater blood lactate levels throughout the exercise trials.
• Blood glucose concentration peaked at 15 minutes post-ingestion for glucose, followed by combined, sodium bicarbonate, and placebo.
• Gastrointestinal distress was lower after combined ingestion compared to sodium bicarbonate alone.
• No differences in sprint performance were observed among the different ingestion trials.

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