Sodium Bicarbonate for Cognition

Overseen By Jeremy J Walsh, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: McMaster University

Disqualifiers: Type 2 diabetes, Hypoglycaemia, Mental health, Cardiovascular, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 3 hours

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines how exercise affects brain function, focusing on lactate, a substance muscles produce during exercise. Researchers believe lactate might enhance brain health and improve memory, attention, and overall thinking skills. Participants will take either a sodium bicarbonate supplement (which can increase lactate) or a placebo before exercising to assess its impact on cognitive improvements. The trial seeks young adults who exercise regularly, specifically those engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity each week. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research on exercise and brain health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies indicate that sodium bicarbonate did not cause significant side effects. Some individuals experienced mild issues like bloating or stomach discomfort, but these were uncommon. Regarding its effect on thinking skills, sodium bicarbonate has shown some promise in improving cognitive function, although some studies found results similar to a placebo. Overall, sodium bicarbonate appears to be a safe option for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using sodium bicarbonate for cognition because it introduces a unique approach compared to traditional cognitive enhancers, which often focus on neurotransmitter modulation. Sodium bicarbonate works by manipulating exercise-induced lactate levels, potentially enhancing brain function through metabolic pathways. This method could offer a novel way to boost cognitive performance by altering the body's acid-base balance, rather than relying solely on chemical neurotransmitter changes.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cognition?

This trial will compare the effects of sodium bicarbonate and a placebo on cognition. Studies have shown that sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, might enhance thinking and memory. Research with patients who have kidney problems found that their thinking skills improved after 12 months of taking sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate is believed to boost energy levels in the brain by increasing lactate, an important energy source. Exercise typically raises lactate levels and increases brain proteins like BDNF, which support memory and thinking. This suggests that sodium bicarbonate might improve cognition by enhancing these exercise-related brain benefits. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jeremy J Walsh, PhD

Principal Investigator

McMaster University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The ExLBC trial is for young adults interested in understanding how exercise affects brain function. Participants should be willing to take sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or a placebo and perform exercise tasks. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically include being in good health with no conditions that could interfere with the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Perform ≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity per week.

Exclusion Criteria

Presence of colour-blindness.

History of mental health conditions

Pre-existing injuries that prevent completion of aerobic exercise

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a single bout of exercise with either sodium bicarbonate or placebo supplementation to manipulate lactate levels

3 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive function and blood parameters post-exercise

3 hours

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exercise-Induced Lactate Manipulation

Trial Overview This study tests whether taking NaHCO3 before exercising can increase lactate levels and improve cognitive functions like memory and attention compared to a placebo. The goal is to see if higher lactate from intense exercise leads to better brain health by increasing BDNF levels.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Single dose of sodium bicarbonate supplement (0.4 g/kg body weight of NaHCO3 gelatin capsules).

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Single dose of a placebo supplement (0.4 g/kg body weight of sodium chloride gelatin capsules).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McMaster University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

936

Recruited

2,630,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12341264/

Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy for CKD Cognitive Function After 12 months of treatment with NaHCO3 therapy, the Cognitive Function Composite score increased significantly from baseline (mean ± SD, 47.3 ...

2. emjreviews.com emjreviews.com/nephrology/news/pilot-trial-explores-sodium-bicarbonate-to-preserve-cognition-in-chronic-kidney-disease/

Pilot Trial Explores Sodium Bicarbonate to Preserve ... - EMJ A pilot randomized trial found sodium bicarbonate may modestly improve cognition in CKD patients with metabolic acidosis—but larger studies ...

3. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/23/NCT04600323/Prot_SAP_000.pdf

Title: Bicarbonate Administration and Cognitive Function in ... Sodium bicarbonate therapy may improve cognitive and cerebrovascular function in CKD, which constitute the main aims of the current proposal. 4 ...

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40797182/

Effects of sodium bicarbonate therapy on cognitive ... - PubMed After 12 months of treatment with NaHCO3 therapy, the Cognitive Function Composite score increased significantly from baseline (mean ± SD, 47.3 ...

5. docwirenews.com docwirenews.com/post/effect-of-sodium-bicarbonate-on-cognitive-function-still-unclear

Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate on Cognitive Function Still ... After 12 months of NaHCO3 therapy, Cognitive Function Composite scores increased significantly from baseline (mean ± SD, 47.3 ± 8.5 to 49.3 ± ...

6. bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-025-04388-6

Effects of sodium bicarbonate therapy on cognitive and ... We found that overall cognition increased significantly with NaHCO3 treatment after 12 months, but it was not statistically different from ...

7. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/jasn/fulltext/2023/11001/effect_of_sodium_bicarbonate_treatment_on.2392.aspx

Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Treatment on Cognitive... NaHCO 3 therapy did not result in a significant improvement in crystallized or total cognition. NaHCO 3 therapy was safe and well-tolerated with no significant ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/394456875_Effects_of_sodium_bicarbonate_therapy_on_cognitive_and_cerebrovascular_function_in_midlife_and_older_adults_with_chronic_kidney_disease_a_pilot_randomized_trial

(PDF) Effects of sodium bicarbonate therapy on cognitive ... Results 33 patients completed the study. After 12 months of treatment with NaHCO3 therapy, the Cognitive Function Composite score increased ...