What is the role of sodium bicarbonate when used as a supplement?

Sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffering agent in the body, which is crucial during high-intensity exercise. When the body engages in intense physical activity, especially activities lasting longer than a few minutes, the production of lactic acid can lead to a decrease in muscle pH, resulting in fatigue. Sodium bicarbonate helps mitigate this drop in pH by neutralizing excess hydrogen ions, thereby maintaining a more stable internal environment. This buffering effect can contribute to improved exercise performance by delaying the onset of fatigue, allowing athletes to sustain higher intensities for longer periods.

While it might be true that sodium bicarbonate could influence hydration or protein synthesis indirectly, its primary and most researched role lies in its ability to delay fatigue through buffering pH changes during rigorous physical activity. This characteristic makes it particularly beneficial for events or training sessions that involve repeated bursts of high-intensity effort.