Summary
Nine subjects (\(\dot V_{o_{2max} } \) 65±2 ml·kg−1·min−1, mean±SEM) were studied on two occasions following ingestion of 500 ml solution containing either sodium citrate (C, 0.300 g·kg−1 body mass) or a sodium chloride placebo (P, 0.045 g·kg−1 body mass). Exercise began 60 min later and consisted of cycle ergometer exercise performed continuously for 20 min each at power outputs corresponding to 33% and 66%\(\dot V_{o_{2max} } \), followed by exercise to exhaustion at 95%\(\dot V_{o_{2max} } \). Pre-exercise arterialized-venous [H+] was lower in C (36.2±0.5 nmol·l−1; pH 7.44) than P (39.4±0.4 nmol·l−1; pH 7.40); the plasma [H+] remained lower and [HCO −3 ] remained higher in C than P throughout exercise and recovery. Exercise time to exhaustion at 95%\(\dot V_{o_{2max} } \) was similar in C (310±69 s) and P (313±74 s). Cardiorespiratory variables (ventilation,\(\dot V_{o_2 } \),\(\dot V_{CO_2 } v\), heart rate) measured during exercise were similar in the two conditions. The plasma [citrate] was higher in C at rest (C, 195±19 μmol·l−1; P, 81±7 μmol·l−1) and throughout exercise and recovery. The plasma [lactate] and [free fatty acid] were not affected by citrate loading but the plasma [glycerol] was lower during exercise in C than P. In conclusion, sodium citrate ingestion had an alkalinizing effect in the plasma but did not improve endurance time during exercise at 95%\(\dot V_{o_{2max} } \). Furthermore, citrate loading may have prevented the stimulation of lipolysis normally observed with exercise and prevented the stimulation of glycolysis in muscle normally observed in bicarbonate-induced alkalosis.
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Kowalchuk, J.M., Maltais, S.A., Yamaji, K. et al. The effect of citrate loading on exercise performance, acid-base balance and metabolism. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 58, 858–864 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332219
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332219