effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation before and after exercise on the executive functions of young athletes

Abstract Recently, the attention of sports science researchers has increased to the role of supplements that help to improve executive functions in addition to improving physical performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on the executive functions of athletes before and after exhausting exercise. 30 male athletes were randomly divided into 2 groups of 15 (supplement consumption group before the exhausting test and supplement consumption group after the exhausting test). The modified coocani test was considered as a training protocol. Continuous performance and N-back tests to measure attention and working memory were measured before conconi test and in four other stages. Data analysis was done by the method of mixed ANOVA and using SPSS 26 software.The findings showed that the group that had taken sodium bicarbonate supplement before the conconi test performed significantly better than the other group in the attention and working memory tests (P<0.05). Acute consumption of sodium bicarbonate supplement both before exercise and as a recovery supplement improves attention and working memory after exercise.Keywords: Sodium bicarbonate, Exhausting exercise, Young athletes, Executive functions