PHOSPHATES DO NOT ASSIST PERFORMANCE

Galloway, S. D., Sexsmith, J. R., Tremblay, M. S., & Roberts, C. J. (1994). The effects of acute phosphate supplementation in subjects of different aerobic fitness levels. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 26(5), Supplement abstract 133.

[Phosphates are supposed to act as a lactic acid buffer. Although research on its value for improving performance is equivocal, some studies have shown it to be associated with increases in VO2max.]

Phosphate supplementation (e.g., sodium and potassium phosphate) has been reported to result in an elevation of erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DGP) to increase peak oxygen uptake and to enhance exercise performance. This study did not support such a finding in groups of different fitness levels.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.