Dear Performance Nutrition Leaders,
This week: Bicarb Gel, the latest news, and omega-3 research.
💡 PERFORMANCE TECH
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most researched ergogenic aids in sport nutrition.
The challenge has always been delivery.
Traditional loading protocols — large powder doses consumed 60–90 minutes pre-exercise — work, but they come with a well-documented GI penalty that makes them impractical for many athletes.
MNSTRY's BICARB GEL 40 takes a different approach.
Each 65g gel contains 5g of sodium and potassium bicarbonate alongside 40g of carbohydrates in a 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio.
According to MNSTRY, the bicarbonate is encapsulated and released in the small intestine rather than the stomach — the mechanism they point to for the improved GI tolerance claim.
The product is positioned not as a standalone loading solution but as a maintenance tool. MNSTRY recommend using it alongside their separate BICARB powder for pre-exercise loading, with 1–3 gels taken during competition or training to sustain bicarbonate availability under sustained high-intensity effort.
Each batch is Informed Sport certified.
What's worth noting for practitioners: LJMU's Dr. Julien Louis — a Reader in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology — recently posted that he and colleagues are actively investigating sodium bicarbonate ingestion during endurance exercise in collaboration with World Athletics, Siemens Healthineers, and MNSTRY.
The research question — whether bicarbonate ingestion during endurance exercise is relevant and performance-supporting — is genuinely open.
Most of the established evidence sits in high-intensity efforts under 10 minutes.
Whether in-exercise gel delivery changes the picture for longer events is what this work is pointing at.
📈NEWS
SuperTri partners with The Feed
Exos hiring performance nutritionist in Phoenix
New creatine format may shake up the category
Man City hiring academy performance nutritionist
GLP-1 use in athletes survey still needs your help!!
Racing Club De Lens hiring performance nutritionist
Jane McClements appointed head of nutrition at Leinster Rugby
Nicole Johnson appointed Football Dietitian for Charlotte football
Grace Jenny appointed performance dietitian at Green Bay Packers
Mackenzie Allen appointed sports dietitian at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Performance Supply Co launch marketplace that centralises purchasing for elite sports organisations
💡Latest Research
A comprehensive new meta-analysis examining 41 randomised controlled trials has found compelling evidence that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can substantially reduce inflammation and enhance muscle recovery in athletes and physically active individuals.
The study, led by researcher Zhenxing Li, analysed data from trials conducted between 2011 and 2025, focusing specifically on the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - the two primary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil supplements.
"Omega-3 PUFAs are known to modulate inflammatory signalling and enhance muscle recovery from exercise-induced stress," the researchers noted. The meta-analysis followed strict PRISMA 2020 guidelines, ensuring the highest standards of systematic review methodology.
Our recommendation
The findings could have significant implications for athletes, coaches, and sports medicine practitioners looking for evidence-based nutritional interventions to optimize recovery and performance.
Exercise-induced inflammation, while a natural part of the training adaptation process, can sometimes hinder recovery and subsequent performance if excessive.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting omega-3 supplementation as a practical tool for managing exercise-related inflammation and potentially improving athletic outcomes.
