Separate and Combined Effects of Caffeine and Sodium-Bicarbonate Intake on Judo Performance

The combined supplementation of caffeine (CAF) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) may have a potential ergogenic effect during intermittent-exercise tasks such as judo; however, its effect in this sport has not been tested.

To investigate the isolated and combined effects of CAF and NaHCO3 on judo performance.

Ten judokas performed 4 supplementation protocols-NaHCO3, CAF, NaHCO3 + CAF, and placebo (PLA) (cellulose)-followed by 3 Special Judo Fitness Tests (SJFTs) interspaced with 5 min rest.

In the first SJFT, the combined supplement (NaHCO3 + CAF) resulted in a higher number of throws than with PLA (24.4 ± 0.9 and 23.2 ± 1.5 throws, respectively, P = .02). There was no significant difference between conditions for the 2nd SJFT (P = .11). In the 3rd SJFT, NaHCO3 and NaHCO3 + CAF resulted in more throws than with PLA (23.7 ± 1.6, 24.4 ± 1.0, and 22.0 ± 1.6 throws, P = .001 and P = .03, respectively). When the total throws performed in the 3 SJFTs were summed, they were higher than PLA only for NaHCO3 + CAF (68.8 ± 4.4 and 72.7 ± 3.1 throws, respectively, P = .003). Postexercise plasma lactate after each SJFT was higher in all experimental conditions than with PLA (P = .001). There was no significant difference in rating of perceived exertion across the conditions (P = .18).

The results of the current study show that the combined supplementation of NaHCO3 + CAF increases judo performance compared with PLA.