Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) and running
What 3 graded rows on sodium citrate (trisodium) agree on for running, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) and running
3 rows · 42 peopleMostly an improvement: 2 of 3 rows, and most of the people. 1 found no difference.
- DGrade D× 2
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 3
- Trials
- 3
- People
- 42
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade D, is a crossover trial of 17 people (2003) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
Only the 2 rows that found an improvement name women in their population.
The row that found no difference is newer (2015) than the 2 rows that found an improvement (2001 to 2003).
The rows
2 improved · 1 no difference- DGrade D5 km running time in trained runners · Improved
Crossover RCT · n 17 · 2003 · Well-trained male college runners
0.5 g per kg of body weight, 2 hours before the run · Single dose
The 5 km treadmill run took 1153.2 seconds after sodium citrate vs 1183.8 seconds after placebo (p = 0.01); post-run lactate was higher (11.9 vs 9.8 mmol/l).
Row on the Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) page · PubMed 14665584 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade D3,000 m running time in elite athletes · Improved
Crossover RCT · n 9 · 2001 · Elite multidisciplinary athletes (7 men, 2 women)
0.5 g per kg of body weight (control: sodium chloride 0.1 g per kg) · Single dose
3,000 m time was faster with sodium citrate (610.9 vs 621.6 seconds, p < 0.05); the authors warned that the high potential for gut distress may rule it out for athletes.
Row on the Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) page · PubMed 11710409 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effect5 km running time in a warm environment · No difference
Crossover RCT · n 16 · 2015 · Endurance-trained men not acclimated to heat, running at 32 °C
500 mg per kg of body weight (placebo: wheat flour) · Single dose
5 km time was similar (18.92 vs 19.11 min, P > 0.05); sodium citrate caused water retention and higher body mass and plasma volume.
Row on the Sodium Citrate (Trisodium) page · PubMed 25471273 (opens PubMed)