Serious question. If you've tried it, does it work basically? Any stomach problems?
Ta
Not 100% cos it's a while since I was at uni, but doesn't an excess of phosphate in your system cause nasty side effects such as osteoporosis and calcification of the organs?
Sort of.
There is loads of it in beer and wine and I've OD's on that the night before a ride before. I've also carbo-loaded. Well I went supersize and Mc'Ds anyway.
In seriousness: http://www.renalhealthnetwork.com/index.php?page=phosphorus
Does not sound cool to me.
"... does it work...?"
what is it you want it to do?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR602299
Sorry - for clarification...
[url= http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/sportsnutrition/supplements1.pl?cartnumber=3442c03¤cy=Pounds&roothome=&prodcode=A388&heading=ZV%20Max ]link[/url]
Poor man's doping?
Well the science behind it seems to make sense, but looking at abstracts from three studies into this doesn't give much more info: [url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2091171 ]contrasting[/url] [url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2355823 ]observations[/url] and [url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6748924 ]conclusions[/url].
Anyway, if this does work, I'm sure it's cheating.
EDIT: Actually, they all seem to say that VO2max etc. is increased with phosphate loading, but don't all agree on how it occurs.
Joe Friel talks about it: I normally find his thoughts fairly worthwhile.
Is it cheating any more than caffeine is cheating? Not on WDA list etc. Appreciate it is debatable though! 🙂
Reference: Friel, J. (2003). The cyclist’s training bible (3rd ed). Boulder, Colarado: Velopress (p.220-221)
(Chapter 16 “Fuel” – also found in Chpter 16; Protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, antioxidant supplements, ergogenic aids, branched-chain amino acids, medium-chain triglycerides, creatine, caffiene, glycerol)
The German Army used sodium phosphate in WWI, and even in the 1930s German atheletes knew of its worth. It has not received a great deal of publicity in recent years, though some atheletes have known about it for years but kept the secret.
Sodium phosphate has the potential to improve a 40k time trial significantly, alloq you to hang on when the pace would normally have you off the back and make high-intensity efforts feel much easier.
In 1983, researchers working with elite runners found that sodium phosphate increased aeobic capacity by 9 percent and improved ventalattory threshold (like lactate threshold) by 12 percent. A more recent study of cyclists in Florida showed showed that using phosphate improved low-level endurance times significantly, lowered 40k time trial times by 8 percent, and raised lactate threshold by 10 percent, while lowering perceived effort. These results seem a bit extreme, but there is limited research on sodium phosphate.
It appears to produce benefits by causing the hemoglobin in the red blood cells to completely unload their stores of oxygen at the muscle. A greater supply of oxygen allows the muscles to operate aerobically at higher speeds and power outputs that would normally cause an anaerobic state.
Yep - not much (legal) I didn't try!
Seem to remember it was recommended as only 3 times a year, so A races only. Loading from the Wednesday (mixed up with 500ml water, drunk at a quarter at a time throughout the day) for a Sunday race rings a bell and it tasted rank (always had it mixed with strong ribenna).
Did it work - haven't got a scooby! I was going pretty well at that point (for me) and had some good races but impossible to pin down if it this was a factor. I could have wasted one my 3 shots of the year and done some testing but preferred to keep at least the placebo effect!
Thanks convert. I was considering trying it for a 24. Not really found anyone who can really say they've seen a benefit though, so might just rely on good old fashioned pedalling hard! 🙂