Study note • PMID 25471273
Impact of acute sodium citrate ingestion on endurance running performance in a warm environment.
Low risk + high feasibility for most athletes.
ELI5
In plain language
Dietary supplements inducing alkalosis have been shown to be ergogenic during intense endurance exercise in temperate environments, but there is lack of data regarding the efficacy of these substances… (randomized trial; trained participants).
The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Performance in heat under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.
Takeaways
What the abstract suggests
- • Study question: Dietary supplements inducing alkalosis have been shown to be ergogenic during intense endurance exercise in temperate environments, but there is lack of data regarding the efficacy of these substances…
- • The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Performance in heat under the tested conditions.
- • Population: trained participants.
- • Protocol cues (title/abstract): 500 mg • 2.05 min • 2.38 min.
Protocol
Protocol (as reported)
- • Intervention/exposure: impact, acute (vs placebo).
- • Dose/time/duration cues in abstract/title: 500 mg • 2.05 min • 2.38 min.
- • Outcomes: Performance in heat.
- • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.
Fit
Who it helps, and who should skip it
Who it helps
- • Athletes similar to the study population (trained participants) working on heat.
- • Athletes who can measure Performance in heat with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.
Who should skip
- • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
- • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.
Methods
What the study actually did
- • Design: randomized trial (double-blind, placebo-controlled).
- • Population: trained participants.
- • Comparator: placebo.
- • Outcomes measured: Performance in heat.
- • Protocol cues mentioned: 500 mg • 2.05 min • 2.38 min.
- • Source: PubMed PMID 25471273 (2015) — European journal of applied physiology.
Results excerpt
What the abstract reports
“Pre- and post-exercise blood HCO3 (-) concentration, base excess and pH were higher (P < 0.001) in CIT compared to PLC trial.”
Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.
Limits
Limitations & bias
- • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
- • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
- • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
- • This is performance information, not medical advice.
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