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

32 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise-Induced Lactate Manipulation for cognition?

Research shows that exercise increases lactate levels, which can cross into the brain and boost a growth factor called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This growth factor is linked to better learning and memory, suggesting that manipulating lactate levels through exercise might help improve cognitive function. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is sodium bicarbonate safe for human use?

The research articles provided do not directly address the safety of sodium bicarbonate in humans. They focus on lactate and its effects on cognition and neurogenesis, primarily in animal models. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How does the treatment Sodium Bicarbonate for Cognition differ from other treatments?

Sodium bicarbonate is unique because it helps improve cognitive performance by enhancing the body's ability to buffer lactic acid produced during exercise, which may indirectly boost brain chemicals like BDNF that support memory. This approach is different from other treatments as it leverages the body's natural response to exercise to enhance cognitive function. ^{2 3 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

A single bout of exercise can rapidly improve cognitive functions including memory, attention, and executive functions, which help us navigate through everyday life. However, we do not fully understand the mechanism behind this process. A promising candidate mechanism is lactate, which was previously considered merely a waste product of our muscles during exercise. It is now recognized as an important molecule that is used by the brain as an energy source. Studies have shown that increases in lactate during exercise are positively related to improved cognitive function after completion of exercise. Another potential mechanism involves the increase in neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following exercise. The increase in lactate and BDNF during exercise may be connected to cause these cognitive improvements. However, because lactate increases with higher exercise intensities, we currently do not know how lactate specifically impacts brain health. To address this, muscle and blood lactate concentrations can be experimentally manipulated during exercise using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation and will allow us to explore how lactate specifically affects brain function. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of exercise-induced lactate on BDNF and cognition following oral NaHCO3 supplementation in young adults. We hypothesize that BDNF levels will be higher, and cognition will be improved in executive function, visuospatial memory, and working memory in the NaHCO3 condition due to higher plasma lactate during exercise compared to placebo.

Research Team

Jeremy J Walsh, PhD

Principal Investigator

McMaster University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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)

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Maintained exercise-enhanced brain executive function related to cerebral lactate metabolism in men. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plasma pH does not influence the cerebral metabolic ratio during maximal whole body exercise. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lactate Mediates the Effects of Exercise on Learning and Memory through SIRT1-Dependent Activation of Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A methodology for an acute exercise clinical trial called dementia risk and dynamic response to exercise. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cerebral metabolism is influenced by muscle ischaemia during exercise in humans. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Blood lactate dynamics in awake and anaesthetized mice after intraperitoneal and subcutaneous injections of lactate-sex matters. [2020]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

L-Lactate Promotes Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. [2020]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exogenous lactate augments exercise-induced improvement in memory but not in hippocampal neurogenesis. [2023]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of pre-exercise alkalosis on lactate/pH regulation and mitochondrial respiration following sprint-interval exercise in humans. [2023]

10. Poland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bicarbonate supplementation via lactate efflux improves anaerobic and cognitive performance in elite combat sport athletes. [2022]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise-Induced Lactate Release Mediates Mitochondrial Biogenesis in the Hippocampus of Mice via Monocarboxylate Transporters. [2021]