Natriumbikarbonattillskott inom idrott : En kartläggande översikt av biverkningar och administrationssätt

Background: Sodium bicarbonate has long been used in sports, particularly in high-intensity anaerobic exercise. As an extracellular buffer, bicarbonate has potential to enhance endurance and reduce fatigue by attenuating metabolic acidosis. Although its ergogenic effects are well documented, no previous review has specifically synthesized the literature on adverse effects and the influence of dosage and administration strategies. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to map the most reported side effects following bicarbonate supplementation and examine how these are affected by different administration methods. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search was performed in PubMed and SPORTDiscus up to March 2025. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials, RCTs, involving healthy adults that examined sodium bicarbonate supplementation with a primary or secondary focus on adverse events. Studies solely investigating performance outcomes without reporting on side effects were excluded. Two reviewers performed screening and data extraction independently. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Results: Of 93 identified records, 18 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Adverse events following sodium bicarbonate supplementation were frequently reported, with incidence rates ranging from 19% to 100% in the studies. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common side effect. Alternative administration strategies, such as enteric-coated capsules, stacked loading protocols, and hydrogel-based formulations, showed potential in reducing the prevalence and severity of side effects. Conclusion: Sodium bicarbonate supplementation is commonly associated with adverse effects, particularly gastrointestinal discomfort. Novel administration strategies show promise inreducing these effects. However, variation in both individual tolerance and study methodology complicates creating generalized guidelines and highlights the need for further research to inform safe and effective use.