Lab Practical: Sodium Citrate

Question 2

main takeaways:

Answer 2

Main Takeaways
Ergogenic Aids: The experiment aims to examine the efficacy of sodium citrate as an ergogenic aid to enhance cycling performance by minimizing metabolic acidosis, which is a contributor to fatigue during high-intensity exercise.
Randomized Crossover Design: Participants undergo two separate sessions, consuming either a placebo or sodium citrate solution, allowing for direct comparison of performance under both conditions.
Performance Evaluation: The study involves a 10-minute sub-maximal exercise followed by a 3-minute maximal power test to assess the impact of sodium citrate on cycling performance.
Data Collection: Blood lactate levels are measured to evaluate metabolic responses during and after exercise, providing insights into the buffering effects of sodium citrate.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis for this experiment is that ingestion of sodium citrate will improve cycling performance compared to a placebo by acting as a buffering agent, reducing the effects of metabolic acidosis and thus enhancing endurance and power output during high-intensity exercise.
Predictions
Improved Performance with Sodium Citrate: It is predicted that participants who ingest sodium citrate will demonstrate higher average power output and peak power during the 3-minute maximal power test compared to when they consume the placebo.
Lower Blood Lactate Levels: Participants are expected to exhibit lower blood lactate levels after consuming sodium citrate, indicating more efficient acid-base balance and reduced fatigue.
Consistent Cadence and Speed: Sodium citrate ingestion is anticipated to help maintain consistent cadence and speed during both sub-maximal and maximal exercise phases, reflecting enhanced endurance capabilities.
Overall, this experiment seeks to validate the potential performance-enhancing effects of sodium citrate for athletes engaged in high-intensity cycling activities.