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  • The most commonly available and economical source of sodium bicarbonate is the household/baking product baking soda. However, most athletes find ingesting sodium bicarbonate mixed in water or even diluted with cordial to be unpalatably salty.
    • Alternative powder forms of sodium bicarbonate are also found in urinary alkalinisers such as Ural Effervescent Powder (1.75 g per sachet), which also contain other ingredients (e.g. carbohydrates, citric acid and most notably sodium citrate (630 mg)).
  • A more palatable delivery of sodium bicarbonate can be provided in tablet or capsule form (e.g. SodibicTM at 840 mg per tablet). While less convenient, filling enteric capsules (e.g. Capsugel®) with either bicarbonate powder or aqueous solution may also be a viable option. This capsule casing is proposed to resist the acidity of the stomach, instead dissolving in the intestine, which may also reduce gastro-intestinal (GI) symptoms of bicarbonate ingestion.8
  • Transdermal delivery of sodium bicarbonate is commercially available (Amp Human®), however more research is needed on the efficacy of this delivery system.9

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