The Study
Effects of Combined Versus Isolated Beta-Alanine and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical Capacity in Highly Trained Female Basketball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
This study is like a fair test where athletes were randomly given different supplements to see what helps them jump higher or sprint faster. It shows that one supplement (sodium bicarbonate) really did help them perform better, but another (beta-alanine) didn't do much on its own. We can say it probably caused the improvement because the test was fair and controlled.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Two supplements—beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate—help muscles handle acid buildup during intense exercise. This study tested them alone and together in female basketball players.
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 574 / 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—this means players can give maximum effort on their first sprint without getting more tired, and recover better between plays, which matters in basketball.
- 2Sodium bicarbonate alone made players 8.5% stronger in their first sprint (761W → 821W).
- 3Beta-alanine alone did nothing.
- 4Together, they made heart rate lower during recovery, meaning less strain.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
International journal of sports physiology and performance
Year
2026
Authors
J. Adamczewski, Mikołaj Szymocha, Natalia Główka, J. Adrian, K. Durkalec-Michalski
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate together improves exercise performance more than taking either one alone, with an effect size of 0.43.
Taking 6.4 grams of beta-alanine daily for 28 days does not improve peak power, average power, or jumping ability in highly trained female basketball players, and increasing muscle carnosine alone does not enhance short bursts of repeated high-intensity effort without additional buffering outside the muscle cells.
In highly trained female basketball players, taking beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate together lowers heart rate during moderate-intensity cycling, reflecting reduced metabolic strain during recovery due to enhanced buffering of acid in cells and blood.
In highly trained female basketball players, taking sodium bicarbonate increases maximum power output during the first sprint of a series and does not reduce power output in later sprints.
Taking beta-alanine or sodium bicarbonate does not change how fatigued highly trained female basketball players feel during repeated high-intensity exercise.
Taking sodium bicarbonate at 0.3 grams per kilogram of body weight daily for seven days increases peak power output by 8.5% during the first 30-second all-out cycling test in highly trained female basketball players, without reducing performance in later tests.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.