The Study
Effects of sodium bicarbonate and carbohydrate intake after 14-h fasting on anaerobic performance and muscular endurance: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.
This study saw what happened when 14 athletes fasted and took different drinks before working out. It found that some drinks seemed to help them do better, but it didn't prove the drinks caused the improvement — maybe they were just lucky or felt more motivated.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study tested if skipping breakfast for 14 hours, or taking baking soda or carbs before exercise, helps men do better in short, intense workouts like sprinting or lifting weights.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 537 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — these improvements are meaningful for athletes doing short, high-intensity sports like sprinting, boxing, or weightlifting.
- 2Fasting made them 10% better at short bursts and 24% better at lifting more reps.
- 3Baking soda made them 21% more powerful and less tired, but gave them stomach upset.
- 4Carbs helped a little with lifting but not with sprinting.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of bodywork and movement therapies
Year
2025
Authors
S. Hatami, Maryam Ebrahimi, A. Jorbonian
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking sodium bicarbonate before high-intensity exercise lasting 30 seconds to 12 minutes results in better performance compared to not taking it.
In trained men performing high-intensity exercise, sodium bicarbonate supplementation increases anaerobic power by 21% and reduces fatigue by 37%, but causes mild gastrointestinal discomfort.
Trained men who fast for 14 hours overnight show a 10% increase in anaerobic performance and a 24% increase in muscular endurance during high-intensity exercise tests.
After a 14-hour fast, consuming carbohydrates slightly improves short bursts of high-intensity effort and clearly improves the ability to sustain muscular effort over time in trained men.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.