Alkaline Water Boosts Athletic Performance in Combat Sports Athletes
- Authors
- Jakub Chycki, Anna Kurylas, Adam Maszczyk, Artur Golas, Adam Zajac
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0205708
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Poland
- Health Condition
- Exercise-Induced Metabolic Acidosis
- Body System
- Muscular
TL;DR
Drinking alkaline water helps combat sport athletes stay better hydrated, maintain a healthier balance of acids and bases in their body, and perform better in short bursts of high-intensity exercise.
Key Finding
Combat sport athletes who consumed mineral-based alkaline water for three weeks showed improved hydration status, better acid-base balance, and increased anaerobic exercise performance compared to those drinking regular water.
Summary
This study tested whether alkaline water (water with a higher pH level) could help combat sport athletes perform better during intense exercise. Sixteen trained athletes drank either alkaline water or regular water for three weeks, then performed high-intensity exercise tests. The researchers measured blood acid levels, hydration status, and exercise performance. Athletes who drank alkaline water showed better hydration, more balanced blood acid levels, and improved performance on the anaerobic exercise tests (short bursts of intense effort).
Practical Takeaway
This small study (16 athletes) suggests alkaline water may help with exercise performance and recovery in combat sports, but the findings are preliminary. The study did not specifically measure hydrogen content, so it's unclear whether the benefits came from alkalinity, mineral content, or hydrogen itself. Larger studies would be needed to confirm these results and determine if alkaline water offers advantages over other hydration strategies.
Abstract
Hydration is one of the most significant issues for combat sports as athletes often use water restriction for quick weight loss before competition. It appears that alkaline water can be an effective alternative to sodium bicarbonate in preventing the effects of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to investigate, in a double blind, placebo controlled randomized study, the impact of mineral-based highly alkaline water on acid-base balance, hydration status, and anaerobic capacity. Sixteen well trained combat sport athletes (n = 16), were randomly divided into two groups; the experimental group (EG; n = 8), which ingested highly alkaline water for three weeks, and the control group (CG; n = 8), which received regular table water. Anaerobic performance was evaluated by two double 30 s Wingate tests for lower and upper limbs, respectively, with a passive rest interval of 3 minutes between the bouts of exercise. Fingertip capillary blood samples for the assessment of lactate concentration were drawn at rest and during the 3rd min of recovery. In addition, acid-base equilibrium and electrolyte status were evaluated. Urine samples were evaluated for specific gravity and pH. The results indicate that drinking alkalized water enhances hydration, improves acid-base balance and anaerobic exercise performance.