Neural, neuromuscular and physiological responses caused by sodium bicarbonate supplementation in supramaximal performance: real effect or placebo effect?

Abstract

Fatigue can limit the physical performance in high intensity efforts, this process can be postponed using ergogenic resources tampons and possibly improving physical performance. In this sense, it is possible to highlight the supplementation of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), responsible for the increase of the content of blood bicarbonate (HCO3), an extracellular buffer that participates in the maintenance of a stable physiological state of the organism. However, the results from NaHCO3 supplementation, can be affected by psychophysiological changes, being able to alter the physical performance, whether beneficial or malevolently featuring the Placebo and Nocebo effects respectively. In fact, the influence of the interaction between NaHCO3 supplementation and the placebo and nocebo effects on physical performance has been reported in the literature, while the mechanisms that remain unknown. Objective: To investigate the influence of the interaction between the real effect of NaHCO3 supplementation and the Placebo effects and Nocebo effect on cycling performance, in addition to investigating changes in physiological, neuromuscular and cortical activity parameters. Methodology: Fifteen subjects visit or laboratory in seven different days and perform: a maximum incremental test; a supra-maximum effort at 115% of the load referring to the maximum oxygen consumption (i(VO) 2máx) up to an exhaust as a familiarization; the same effort utilized to familiarize will be realized in a control condition and in four experimental conditions performed in a crossed and uni-blind manner. Three conditions will contain NaHCO3 supplementation (conditions 1, 2 and 3) and the in the remaining condition will be used an inert substance (condition 4). In addition, the information transmitted regarding the treatment carried out differs for the conditions, being: information the NaHCO3 supplementation in conditions 1 and 4, information on placebo supplementation for condition 2 and information on the lactic use in condition 3. Time until exhaustion reached, it will be assumed as a performance variable and autonomous control measures, a cortical electrical activity, a physiological state and neuromuscular assessments will be carried out in order to elucidate the mechanisms that allow the interaction between the effects of NaHCO3 supplementation with the effects Placebo and Nocebo occasioned through the information transmitted in each condition. (AU)