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

  • 2024
  • Biology of sport 41(3)
    • Terence Curran-Bowen
    • André Guedes da Silva
    • Gabriel Barreto
    • John Buckley
    • Bryan Saunders

Study Design

Type
Review
Sample size
n = 243
Population
healthy (e.g. no chronic diseases or conditions) male or female adults of any training status (athletes, physically active and non-athletes)
Methods
Systematic review and meta-analysis; searched four databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web Of Science and MEDLINE) using relevant terms for studies involving BA and SB in isolation and combination at any dose on an exercise outcome
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 non-athletes) 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.

Research Insights

  • Beta-Alanine→Improved Exercise Performance

    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%).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    any dose
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