The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sodium citrate (CIT) ingestion on 30 km cycling performance. Eight trained male cyclists (VO2max = 54.7 +/- 1.7 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed two 30 km cycling time trials. The trials were double blind and randomly assigned from CIT or placebo (PLC), with both dosages at 0.5 g.kg body wt-1. Blood samples were collected from an indwelling catheter at 10 km intervals and analyzed for PO2, PCO2, pH, and lactate concentration ([La]). Power output, heart rate (HR) and RPE were measured at 5 min intervals during the trials, while cycling performance was determined from time to complete the 30 km. A repeated measures ANOVA and dependent t-tests were used to locate differences between the trials. A significant difference (p < or = 0.01) was observed for pH and [La] during the trials with CIT being elevated above PLC throughout the ride. No significant differences (p > 0.01) were observed for any of the other dependent variables. However, power output and HR were slightly elevated during the CIT trial. Performance time was significantly faster (p < or = 0.05) for the CIT trial (3459.6 +/- 97.4 s) compared to the PLC trial (3562.3 +/- 108.5 s). The data indicate that favorable metabolic conditions were obtained following CIT ingestion and these likely contributed to the improvement in cycling performance.
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