Role of lactic acidosis as a mediator of sprint‐mediated nausea

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between nausea level and lactic acidosis during recovery from sprinting. In all, 13 recreationally active males completed a 60 s bout of maximal intensity cycling. Prior to and for 45 min following exercise, blood pH, pCO2, and lactate levels were measured together with nausea. In response to sprinting, nausea, lactate, and H+ concentrations increased and remained elevated for at least 10 min (p 0.595, p 0.689, p < .0001), but an inconsistent relationship with pCO2 (VAS rrm = 0.250, p = .040; NP rrm = 0.144, p = .248) and bicarbonate levels (VAS rrm = −0.252, p = .095; NP rrm = −0.397, p = .008). Linear mixed modeling was used to predict the trajectory of nausea over time, with both lactate and H+ concentrations found to be key predictors of nausea (p < .0001). In conclusion, this study reveals a strong positive relationship between nausea and both H+ and lactate concentrations during recovery from sprinting, a finding consistent with H+ and lactate being potential mediators of nausea post‐sprinting. However, as the timing of the recovery of both H+ and lactate was delayed, compared to that of nausea, further research is required to confirm these findings and investigate other potential mechanisms.

Keywords

• high intensity exercise
• lactic acidosis
• nausea
• nucleus tractus solitarii
• sprint