Preferred Name
Tanya Romero
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Date of Graduation
5-15-2025
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Kinesiology
First Advisor
Michael J. Saunders
Second Advisor
Nicholas D. Luden
Third Advisor
Christopher J. Womack
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined the effects of a novel sodium bicarbonate hydrogel supplement (SBH) on ratings of GI distress and high intensity running performance in comparison to a non-hydrogel supplement (SB) and a placebo (PL). Methods: 15 participants completed a preliminary trial and 3 randomly counterbalanced experimental trials. 90 min prior to each experimental trial, participants consumed either PL, SB or SBH. Each trial consisted of a 5 min treadmill warm-up followed by 20 sprints of 25 s at 100% VO2max and an 800 m time-trial (TT). Blood glucose, lactate and RPE measurements were obtained prior to exercise (pre-ex), following the intervals (post-int), and following the TT (post-800). In addition, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were assessed pre-supplementation, pre-ex (90 min following supplementation), after 10 sprint intervals (mid-int), post-int, and post-800. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were performed to determine the effects of treatment and time on blood lactate, glucose, GI symptoms and RPE. A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to determine treatment effects on 800-m TT performance. An alpha level of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results: There was a significant time effect in blood glucose levels specifically following the post-int and post-800 timepoints. Blood lactate levels at the post-800 timepoint were significantly greater than other time points. Lactate responses in the SB trial were significantly higher than PL at the post-int and post-800 timepoints. Lactate levels in the SBH trial were similar to SB, and higher in SBH versus PL at the post-800 timepoint. GI symptoms were highest at the post-800 timepoint, and total GI symptom scores (across all timepoints) were higher in the SB trial versus PL and SBH, with no differences between PL and SBH trials. No differences in TT performance were observed between PL (195.2 ± 39.2 s), SB (199.2 ± 50.0 s), and SBH (194.3 ± 43.8 s) trials. Conclusion: No differences in blood glucose and lactate responses during exercise between SB and SBH. SBH ingestion attenuated total GI symptom scores versus SB. However, no differences in performance were observed between SBH and SB treatment and neither improved performance versus the PL trial.
