From Reactions.

In February 2025, a number of running world records were absolutely demolished by athletes who claimed they gained an edge through a common kitchen ingredient: baking soda. It sounds like pseudoscience, but incredibly, this trick might actually work… or make you violently ill. So of course, Alex had to try it.

Check out In the Margins: https://youtu.be/-QnKnTbFfjY?feature=shared

#sodiumbicarbonate #endurance #bakingsoda

Producers:
Andrew Sobey
Elaine Seward
Darren Weaver

Writer:
Alex Dainis, Ph.D.

Hosts:
Alex Dainis, Ph.D.

Executive Producer:
Matthew Radcliff

Scientific Consultants:
Bryan Saunders, Ph.D.
Brianne Raccor, Ph.D.
Michelle Boucher, Ph.D.

Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell

Reactions is a production of the American Chemical Society.
© 2025 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Sources:
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/100324/pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3824146/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4670772/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27409551/
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physrev.00015.2007#:~:text=Anaerobic%20glycolysis%20is%20of%20central,with%20rapid%2Donset%20muscle%20fatigue
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0114729
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-essr/fulltext/2015/04000/skeletal_muscle_fatigue_and_decreased_efficiency_.3.aspx
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-018-3823-1
https://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/science_fact_or_science_fiction_lactic_acid_buildup_causes_muscle_fatigue_and_soreness#:~:text=Lactic%20acid%20is%20a%20byproduct,acid%20following%20an%20intense%20workout
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19208932/#:~:text=Abstract,still%20elevated%20above%20preingestion%20levels
https://www.maurten.com/products/us/bicarb?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw47i_BhBTEiwAaJfPprP9u5Ofb4VzdAwGfnoeGwIEfp6aIGc3V-q0P1Z69N4Wg6681sES-xoCDRQQAvD_BwE
https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/track-field/household-item-turning-runners-world-record-holders-rcna194810
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002962915360638
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-021-01575-x https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12970-021-00469-7
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-020-01275-y