Effects of β-alanine and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical Capacity and Biochemical Markers Concentrations

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Female Athletes; Supplementation; Sports

• Registration Number: NCT07092930
• Lead Sponsor: Poznan University of Physical Education

Brief Summary

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study aims to evaluate the potential synergistic effect of beta-alanine (BA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation, compared to their separate administration or placebo (PL), on physical performance and selected blood biochemical markers in highly trained female basketball players.

Detailed Description

Beta-alanine (BA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) are commonly proposed as ergogenic aids due to their potential to enhance intracellular (BA) and extracellular (SB) buffering capacities, thereby improving physical performance. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding their potential synergistic effects, particularly in female athletes. Existing studies have primarily focused on male participants, despite emerging evidence suggesting sex-specific physiological responses to supplementation. Furthermore, research shows that females exhibit a high willingness to participate in scientific studies, underlining the importance of including female cohorts in sports supplementation research. To date, no randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have examined the combined and separate effects of BA and SB using a four-arm design (BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, PL1+ PL2). Only one study to date has focused on chronic SB supplementation, whereas the majority have used acute protocols. Additionally, there is a notable lack of data on the use of BA and SB in team sports such as basketball, where repeated high-intensity efforts are dominant. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the chronic effects of BA and SB supplementation (administered individually or in combination) on physical capacity and selected blood biochemical markers in highly trained female basketball players, using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-10-01
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study First Submitted: 2025-07-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-28
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-30
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-30
• Primary Completion: 2025-12
• Study Completion: 2025-12-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• written consent to participate,
• general good health condition,
• a current medical clearance to practice sports,
• training experience: at least 4 years,
• minimum of 4 workout sessions (in the discipline covered by the study) a week.

Exclusion Criteria

• current injury,
• any health-related contraindication,
• declared general feeling of being unwell,
• taking supplements, especially ergogenic supplements that modulate extra- and intracellular capacity 3 months prior to research (except taking protein and/or carbohydrate powders, isotonic drinks),
• unwilling to follow the study protocol.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in anaerobic capacity during Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT)	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of peak power (PP), average power (AP), minimum power (MP), power drop (PD) \[W (Watts)\] using the Monark 894E ergometer (measured before and after incremental cycling test (ICT)) before and after supplementation (BA - beta-alanine; SB - sodium bicarbonate; PL - placebo; with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in hydrogen ion concentration	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of hydrogen ion concentration \[nmol/L\] measured in capillary blood at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in aerobic capacity during incremental cycling test (ICT)	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of time to exhaustion \[s (seconds)\] during an incremental cycling test (ICT) using Ergoline E100P-K, measured before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in Countermovement Jump (CMJ) performance	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of three consecutive countermovement jump (CMJ) heights \[cm (centimetres)\] using the Microgate system, measured at rest and after the entire exercise procedure, both before and after supplementation.
Changes in blood bicarbonate, base excess, anion gap, and lactate concentrations	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of bicarbonate, base excess, anion gap, lactate \[mmol/L\] measured in capillary blood at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in platelets distribution width and platelets large cell ratio	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of platelets distribution width (PDW) and platelets large cell ratio (PLCR) \[%\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in urine erythrocytes and leukocytes	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of erythrocytes (BLD), leukocytes (LEU) \[cells/μL\] measured in urine at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Analysis of dietary energy intake	48 h before the first study visit and the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of energy intake \[kcal (kilocalories)\], before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in urea and magnesium	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of urea and magnesium (Mg) \[mmol/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in body mass, fat-free mass and fat mass	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of body mass, fat-free mass and fat mass \[kg (kilograms)\] at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, red blood cells and platelets	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes (MON), granulocytes (GRA), red blood cells (RBC) and platelets (PLT) \[count/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in mean corpuscular volume, mean platelet volume, red blood cell distribution width	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of hematological markers \[fL\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation. The analysis will include mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean platelet volume (MPV), read blood cell distribution width (RDW) \[fL\], before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in creatinine	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of creatinine concentration \[μmol/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) \[μg/dL\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2)
Changes in protein, glucose, ketones, urobilinogen, bilirubin	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of protein (PRO), glucose (GLU), ketones (KET), urobilinogen (UBG), bilirubin (BIL) \[mg/dL\] measured in urine at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in heart rate	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of heart rate (HR) \[bpm (beats per minute)\] during the entire exercise procedure, measured before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in gastrointestinal symptoms	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms using the adapted and validated Gastrointestinal and Related Complaints Questionnaire, via a self-reported symptom severity scale \[0-10\], administered at rest and after the exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).; The questionnaire assesses 19 symptoms: stomach problems, nausea, dizziness, headache, flatulence, urge to urinate, urge to defecate, belching, heartburn, bloating, stomach cramps, intestinal cramps, urge to vomit, vomiting, diarrhoea, left side ache, right side ache, muscle cramps, and cold shivering.; Each symptom is rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (severe symptoms). Higher scores indicate greater gastrointestinal symptom severity. The scale will be administered in accordance with the methodology described by Jeukendrup et al. (2000).
Changes in total body water content	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of total body water, extracellular and intracellular water \[% (percentage)\] at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration \[mmol/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in transferrin	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of transferrin \[g/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in urine specific gravity	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of urine specific gravity (USG) measured in urine at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL
Changes in urine luteinizing hormone and nitrite	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of luteinizing hormone (LH) and nitrite (NIT) \[positive/negative\] measured in urine at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Analysis of dietary macronutrient intake	48 h before the first study visit and the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of macronutrients intake (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) \[g (grams)\], before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in rate of perceived exertion	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	The Borg RPE Scale ranges from 6 (no exertion at all) to 20 (maximal exertion). Higher scores indicate greater subjective perceived physical effort. The scale will be administered in accordance with the original methodology described by Borg (1982).
Changes in hematocrit	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of hematocrit (HCT) \[L/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in mean corpuscular hemoglobin	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) \[fmol\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) \[U/L\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in ferritin	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of ferritin \[μg/mL\] will be performed in capillary blood collected at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in potassium, sodium, ionized calcium, chloride, osmolality	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of potassium (cK⁺), sodium (cNa⁺), ionized calcium (cCa²⁺), chloride (cCl-), osmolality (mOsm.c) \[mmol/L\] measured in capillary blood at rest, after warm-up, and after the entire exercise procedure, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Changes in pH	During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.	Assessment of pH measured in urine at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Sports Dietetics, Poznan University of Physical Education Poznań; 🇵🇱 Poznań, Wielkopolska, Poland