The Effect of a Sodium Bicarbonate Drink on the Recovery of Anaerobic Fatigue and Lactic Acid After Exhausting Exercise

Introduction: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) is an ergogenic agent that enhances the body's buffer capacity and reduces fatigue from lactic acid accumulation during anaerobic exercise. However, its effectiveness in intermittent sports like badminton is limited, necessitating further research.Objective: This research aims to assess the impact of sodium bicarbonate intake on alleviating anaerobic fatigue and lowering lactic acid concentrations after strenuous exercise.Methodology: The study involved 36 male badminton players from the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) Jombang, divided into two groups: the treatment group (Sb) and the control group (Pla). Before the test, the Sb group consumed sodium bicarbonate solution to mitigate adverse effects, while the Pla group took mineral water. Participants engaged in anaerobic exercise, jogging at 95% of their heart rate. They were assessed using the RAST and Roche Cobas Accutrend Plus for lactic acid concentrations.Results: The study found that sodium bicarbonate intake significantly reduced the rise in fatigue index and lactic acid concentrations compared to the control group. The control group experienced a mean increase of 3.658 ± 1.87 watts/s, while the treatment group showed a decrease of only 1.791 ± 1.65 watts/s.Discussion: Sodium bicarbonate consumption significantly reduced the increase in fatigue index and lactic acid levels after anaerobic exercise, supporting its role as an effective strategy in maintaining badminton athlete performance.Conclusions: Sodium bicarbonate stabilizes body pH by neutralizing lactic acid and H⁺ ions, reducing metabolic acidosis during intense anaerobic exercise. It may help reduce anaerobic fatigue in badminton athletes, but further studies are needed.