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.
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 Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
100
Assigned Interventions: * Beta-alanine (BA) * Sodium bicarbonate (SB) Description: • Participants receive beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate Intervention list \& supplementation details: 1. Beta-alanine (BA) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Pure beta-alanine * Daily dose: 6.4 g/day * Dosing schedule: Four equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 1 to 28 2. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Pure sodium bicarbonate * Daily dose: 0.3 g/kg body mass per day * Dosing schedule: Three equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 21 to 28 of BA or PL1 supplementation Rationale: • This group tests the combined effects of BA and SB
Participants in this intervention group will undergo chronic supplementation with beta-alanine (BA) and an inert placebo (PL2) matched to the sodium bicarbonate (SB) protocol. * Beta-alanine (pure, in gelatin capsules) will be administered at a total daily dose of 6.4 g, divided into four servings taken with meals, over a period of 28 consecutive days. * PL2 (placebo matched to SB, in gelatin capsules) will be administered from Day 21 to Day 28 of beta-alanine supplementation, at a daily dose of 0.3 g per kg of body mass, divided into three equal servings taken with meals. This group allows for evaluation of the isolated effects of BA supplementation when combined with a placebo comparator to SB
Assigned Interventions: * Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Sodium bicarbonate (SB) Description: • Participants receive only sodium bicarbonate as the active compound and placebo capsules matching the BA protocol. Intervention list \& supplementation details: 1. Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Inert substance matched in appearance and dosing schedule to BA * Daily dose: 6.4 g/day * Dosing schedule: Four equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 1 to 28 2. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Pure sodium bicarbonate * Daily dose: 0.3 g/kg body mass per day * Dosing schedule: Three equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 21 to 28 of BA or PL1 supplementation Rationale: • This group tests the isolated effects of SB
Assigned Interventions: * Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Placebo matched to SB (PL2) Description: • Participants receive two matched placebos. Intervention list \& supplementation details: 1. Placebo matched to BA (PL1) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Inert substance matched in appearance and dosing schedule to BA * Daily dose: 6.4 g/day * Dosing schedule: Four equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 1 to 28 2. Placebo matched to SB (PL2) * Form: Gelatin capsules * Substance: Inert substance matched in appearance and timing to SB * Daily dose: 0.3 g/kg body mass per day * Dosing schedule: Three equal servings taken with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) * Supplementation period: days 21 to 28 of BA or PL1 supplementation Rationale: • This serves as the control group for comparison with all active intervention arms.
Department of Sports Dietetics, Poznan University of Physical Education Poznań
Poznan, Wielkopolska, Poland
RECRUITINGChanges in anaerobic capacity during Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT)
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in Countermovement Jump (CMJ) performance
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.
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in aerobic capacity during incremental cycling test (ICT)
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in blood bicarbonate, base excess, anion gap, and lactate concentrations
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in hydrogen ion concentration
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Analysis of dietary energy intake
Assessment of energy intake \[kcal (kilocalories)\], before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Time frame: 48 h before the first study visit and the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Analysis of dietary macronutrient intake
Assessment of macronutrients intake (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) \[g (grams)\], before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Time frame: 48 h before the first study visit and the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in rate of perceived exertion
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in heart rate
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in gastrointestinal symptoms
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).
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Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in body mass, fat-free mass and fat mass
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in total body water content
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, red blood cells and platelets
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in platelets distribution width and platelets large cell ratio
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in hematocrit
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in mean corpuscular volume, mean platelet volume, red blood cell distribution width
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in mean corpuscular hemoglobin
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in urea and magnesium
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in creatinine
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity
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)
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in transferrin
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in ferritin
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in potassium, sodium, ionized calcium, chloride, osmolality
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in urine specific gravity
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
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in protein, glucose, ketones, urobilinogen, bilirubin
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in pH
Assessment of pH measured in urine at rest, before and after supplementation (with BA+SB, BA+PL2, PL1+SB, or PL1+PL2).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in urine erythrocytes and leukocytes
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.
Changes in urine luteinizing hormone and nitrite
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).
Time frame: During the first study visit on the first day and during the second study visit after 28 days of intervention.