Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a nutritional aid that is proposed to enhance performance by reducing the state of exercise induced acidosis, however research is currently equivocal. Despite this, most research still focuses on its effects upon performance, and not whether the reduced acidosis impacts upon any other factors related to exercise. There is some research to suggest that such a reduction in [H+] can attenuate a number of physiological stress pathways such as stress hormones (1, 4), heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) and oxidative stress (3), suggesting a potential role in exercise recovery. However there are some limitations with this previous research as work intensities were not controlled for, hence making comparisons between treatments difficult. Also limited markers of stress were measured despite the physiological stress response being multi-faceted. The aim of this study was to examine whether the ingestion of NaHCO3 would influence the expression of several markers of stress measured simultaneously, following a work controlled anaerobic exercise
