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Buffering agents including sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine and sodium citrate are routinely used by athletes, and effects of buffering agents on athletes’ performance have been investigated since as early as the 1930s. Extracellular buffering agents, including sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate, can increase the blood’s buffering capacity (pH and [HCO3-]), and intracellular buffering via beta-alanine supplementation can increase muscle carnosine concentration. The recent International Olympic Committee consensus statement on nutritional supplements reported that for sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine, there is scientific evidence for beneficial effects on athletes’ performance. There is also growing evidence that sodium citrate can be effective in improving performance. There is a high prevalence of the use of supplements and buffering agents within athletic populations and consideration of the use of buffering agents in specific contexts relevant to athletes is therefore warranted. Contexts that have been investigated within the literature to only a limited extent include the use of buffering agents in highly trained female athletes, in extreme environmental conditions (e.g., training and/or competing in hot weather conditions or at altitude) and when using combinations of buffering agents. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the effectiveness of extracellular and intracellular buffering agents can be influenced by modifying factors, such as the dose, timing, duration, and intensity of exercise performed. Additionally, the translation of research findings in buffering agents to highly trained athletes can be influenced by the design factors of research studies (e.g., use of crossover or matched group study design, familiarisation trials, pre-test dietary standardisation, performance tests that were representative of the real-world competitive demands of athletes) and athlete-specific factors (e.g., recruitment of highly-trained athletes as research participants, measures of buffering capacity, and reported improvements in performance tests that replicate real-world competitive events). There is therefore further scope to provide a practical evaluation of the evidence on buffering agents, which may be particularly relevant to performance support practitioners and coaches seeking to implement an evidence-based buffering protocol for their athletes.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
11/12/2027
BOC
1
11/12/2027
Creatine is a well-established dietary supplement which enhances resistance training adaptations across the lifespan, including muscle mass and performance. Beyond muscle, creatine has been shown to have favorable effects on measures of bone biology in older adults and disease state populations and measures of brain health and function across a variety of populations, including young adults who experienced traumatic brain injury. This review will outline recent advances and perspectives on how creatine supplementation functions to improve indices of bone and brain health across a variety of populations.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
12/19/2026
BOC
1
12/19/2026
CSCCa
1
12/19/2026
Iron is an essential micronutrient in the diet. However, athletes commonly present as iron deficient because of numerous mechanisms associated with exercise. An understanding of these mechanisms is important in our strategic approach to repleting and maintaining healthy iron stores. Athletes presenting with an iron deficiency have several options with regard to addressing the problem. These include, an increase in overall nutrient intake from food, the use of oral iron supplements, or in severe cases, consideration of parenteral iron therapy. The approach taken to correct iron stores should be made in consideration of an athlete’s iron screening results, which should be standardized and collected on a routine basis.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
12/19/2026
BOC
1
12/19/2026
The ketone bodies acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate have wide-ranging metabolic and molecular effects on organs such as the brain, heart and skeletal muscle, some of which are suggestive of benefits to athletes in terms of performance and recovery. The recent development and increasing commercial availability of ingestible forms of ketone bodies as exogenous ketone supplements has amplified interest in these compounds. A variety of compounds classified as exogenous ketone supplements are now available and have been subject to several studies in exercise performance and recovery contexts in human participants. While there are mechanistic bases for potential beneficial effects of exogenous ketone supplements in various athletic contexts, most studies to date have failed to observe benefits to performance or recovery.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
05/15/2026
BOC
1
05/15/2026
CSCCa
1
05/05/2026
There are important sex-based differences that exist between men and women that may influence nutrition and dietary supplement recommendations. The hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, and with oral contraceptives, result in metabolic alterations which should be considered when making supplement considerations for active women. Body composition and protein metabolism also change throughout a woman’s lifespan. This course will detail the scientific evidence related to sex-specific nutritional recommendations.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
05/15/2026
BOC
1
05/15/2026
In this course, Dr David Kennedy discusses caffeine from a research and real-world perspective. Caffeine, when taken alone in a research context, is associated with consistent ergogenic and psychological benefits, although within differing optimal dose ranges. In a real-world sport/exercise context, caffeine is often consumed alongside other bioactive compounds in the form of manufactured energy drinks or naturally occurring, plant-derived, caffeinated products. This SSE course explores the state of the research and where further exploration is needed.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
02/06/2026
BOC
1
02/06/2026
While there is a disparity in sports performance research on female athletes, several experts in the field are making progress in furthering the understanding of the unique characteristics and needs of this population. From physiological and nutritional needs, to mental health and performance considerations, hear Dr Wendy Borlabi, Dr Trent Stellingwerff, Dr Abbie Smith-Ryan and Dr Sara Oikawa cover methods to keep the female athlete healthy.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
2.25
07/29/2025
BOC
2.25
07/29/2025
CSCCa
2.25
07/29/2025
