Fields of Application
Acclivum 2.0 is an advanced, enteric-protected sodium bicarbonate ingredient designed for use in dietary supplements and functional formulations.
Unlike conventional bicarbonate, which reacts in the stomach and can cause gas and discomfort, Acclivum 2.0 bypasses the gastric environment and releases bicarbonate in the small intestine, where it can be absorbed more gradually and with significantly improved gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability. Human pharmacokinetic data show that enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate can reach a target rise in blood bicarbonate (≥5 mmol/L) with approximately 25% lower dose and fewer GI symptoms compared with standard, uncoated tablets. MDPI+1
This delivery profile makes Acclivum 2.0 an attractive choice for formulations targeting acid–base balance, exercise performance, and immune modulation, especially where chronic or repeated dosing is desired.
reflux & Upper GI comfort
Conventional oral sodium bicarbonate is widely used as a fast-acting antacid, but its reaction with gastric acid generates carbon dioxide (CO₂), which can contribute to bloating, belching and increased intra-gastric pressure. These effects may aggravate reflux symptoms in susceptible individuals and limit tolerance at effective doses. Mayo Clinic+1
By contrast, Acclivum 2.0 is engineered to minimize bicarbonate release in the stomach, thereby markedly reducing CO₂ generation in the gastric lumen. Once the enteric coating dissolves in the small intestine, bicarbonate is released where it can be absorbed systemically with lower reported GI distress. MDPI+1
Formulation opportunity (B2B):
Heartburn / reflux-support formulas where tolerability and regular use are critical
Complex gut-health products combining buffering, microbiome and barrier-support ingredients
Note: Acclivum 2.0 is not a medicinal product and is not intended to treat or cure GERD. Positioning should remain within regulatory boundaries of your target market
Physiologically, bicarbonate secreted into the duodenum and pancreatic juice neutralizes gastric acid, helping:
- Protect the duodenal and intestinal mucosa
- Create the optimal pH for pancreatic enzyme activity
- Support normal digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates pancreapedia.org+1
Acclivum 2.0 releases bicarbonate directly in the upper small intestine, aligning with these natural mechanisms. This supports:
- Physiological duodenal alkalinization
- More comfortable digestion in formulas that also include enzymes, bile salts or other digestive agents
Formulation opportunity:
- Premium digestive support capsules or sachets
- Products for older adults or high-protein diets where buffering capacity is relevant
performance & Recovery
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the best-established ergogenic buffers for high-intensity exercise. Multiple meta-analyses and position stands show that acute ingestion of 0.2–0.5 g/kg NaHCO₃ can:
- Increase extracellular buffering capacity
- Delay fatigue during high-intensity, short-to-medium duration efforts (~30 s–12 min) Frontiers+2BioMed Central+2
The main barrier to use in practice is GI distress (nausea, bloating, diarrhea) when standard bicarbonate is taken at effective doses.
Enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate formulations have been shown to:
- Reduce GI symptoms compared with standard capsules
- Achieve similar or improved performance outcomes in trained athletes (e.g. 4 km cycling time trial) SpringerLink+1
- Reach a performance-relevant rise in blood bicarbonate with ~25% lower dose and lower reported GI discomfort in human pharmacokinetic trials MDPI+1
Formulation opportunity:
- Sport and pre-workout products for high-intensity or intermittent sports
- Recovery systems combining bicarbonate with carbohydrates, electrolytes and amino acids
A growing body of work suggests that oral sodium bicarbonate can activate neural anti-inflammatory pathways, particularly the splenic cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway:
- In rats and healthy humans, oral NaHCO₃ intake has been shown to shift splenic and peripheral immune cells toward an anti-inflammatory profile – increasing regulatory T cells and M2-like macrophages while reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage markers. Europe PMC+1
- Recent preclinical work indicates that this effect is mediated by the splenic nerve, supporting the concept of sodium bicarbonate as an activator of the inflammatory reflex (IR). BioMed Central
- A dedicated review concludes that NaHCO₃ is a promising, low-cost candidate IR activator, though mechanisms and clinical indications remain under active investigation. soar.suny.edu+1
By enabling more consistent oral bicarbonate exposure with better tolerability, Acclivum 2.0 is a suitable technology platform for products positioned around:
- Systemic inflammation balance (within the limits of nutraceutical claims)
- Support for populations exposed to chronic metabolic or inflammatory stress
Important: Current evidence is mainly preclinical or early-phase human. Claims should focus on supporting normal immune balance rather than treating specific inflammatory diseases.
Skin aging and barrier dysfunction are closely linked to changes in skin surface pH, chronic low-grade inflammation and microbiome imbalance:
- Classic and recent work shows that skin with a surface pH <5 has better barrier function, hydration and resident flora adherence compared with higher pH. ResearchGate+1
- Reviews on the “skin acid mantle” highlight pH as a central regulator of barrier integrity, antimicrobial defense and inflammatory signaling. jidonline.org+1
There are no clinical trials directly demonstrating that oral bicarbonate improves wrinkles or elasticity. However, for “inside-out” cosmetic concepts, Acclivum 2.0 can be framed as part of a systemic wellness strategy that:
- Helps maintain overall acid–base balance
- May indirectly influence inflammatory load and tissue homeostasis, as suggested by immune and CKD studies
Formulation opportunity:
- Premium nutricosmetic or “skin-from-within” complexes combined with collagen, antioxidants, and barrier-supporting nutrients
- Positioning around holistic wellness, not direct cosmetic outcomes
These areas are research-driven and should not be used as direct health claims, but they illustrate future potential and may be of interest to R&D and medical marketing teams.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Several trials show that correcting metabolic acidosis with oral bicarbonate can slow eGFR decline and improve nutritional status in CKD stages 3–4. research.amanote.com+1
- Other large, pragmatic trials report neutral effects on hard outcomes, and recent systematic reviews conclude that the overall evidence is mixed, with ongoing debate about optimal dosing and target bicarbonate levels. kireports.org+1
Bone health & Acid–base balance
- Randomized trials of alkaline potassium salts (e.g. KHCO₃, potassium citrate) show reduced urinary calcium excretion and lower bone resorption markers, suggesting a beneficial effect on bone metabolism. OUP Academic+1
- These findings support the broader concept that reducing net acid load may help conserve bone mineral, although definitive fracture data are lacking and most work focuses on potassium, not sodium, bicarbonate.
Oncology (Preclinical)
- In mouse models, oral NaHCO₃ has been shown to raise tumor extracellular pH and reduce spontaneous metastases, without changing intracellular tumor pH. aacrjournals.org+1
- This is entirely preclinical and not directly translatable to human treatment claims, but it underpins continued interest in buffering tumor acidity as an adjunctive strategy.
Disclaimer
The information provided is intended for healthcare professionals, product developers and B2B partners. It summarizes current scientific knowledge on oral bicarbonate and enteric delivery systems.
Acclivum2.0 and finished products containing it:
- Are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
- Should be used and marketed in accordance with local regulatory frameworks
- Should be positioned with appropriate, structure-/function-type claims where permitted
Ongoing and future clinical trials will further clarify the therapeutic and nutraceutical applications of enteric-delivered bicarbonate.
Enteric-coated bicarbonate & GI tolerability / PK
- Jiang, F. L., et al. (2024). Effects of enteric-coated formulation of sodium bicarbonate on bicarbonate absorption and gastrointestinal discomfort. Nutrients, 16(5), 744. DOI: 10.3390/nu16050744 • Link: mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/5/744 MDPI+1 – Human PK study: enteric-coated NaHCO₃ required ~225 mg/kg vs 300 mg/kg uncoated to raise blood bicarbonate ≥5 mmol/L, with fewer GI symptoms. Directly supports the “~25% lower dose” and tolerability statements.
- Hilton, N. P., et al. (2020). Enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate supplementation improves high-intensity cycling performance in trained cyclists. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120(7), 1563–1573. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04387-5 • Link: via Springer / PubMed SpringerLink+1 – RCT in trained cyclists: enteric-coated NaHCO₃ improved 4-km TT performance and reduced GI symptoms vs. standard capsules.
- Enteric-coated NaHCO₃ and GI side effects in exercise – e.g. Sparks/McNaughton group; IJSNEM paper on GI symptom attenuation with enteric NaHCO₃. Human Kinetics Journals+1 – Confirms that encapsulation/enteric strategies mitigate GI side effects while still achieving useful alkalosis.
Ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate (standard formulations)
International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). (2021). Position stand: sodium bicarbonate and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18:XX. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-021-00458-w • Link: BioMed Central – Consensus that NaHCO₃ (0.2–0.5 g/kg) can improve performance in high-intensity exercise, while noting GI side effects as a major limitation.
Grgic, J., et al. (2021). Effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on exercise performance: an umbrella review. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18:54. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-021-00469-7 • Link: tandfonline.com / jissn Taylor & Francis Online – Aggregates multiple meta-analyses; concludes overall ergogenic benefit, especially for repeated or sustained high-intensity tasks.
Immune / Anti-inflammatory effects
Harris, R. A., Ray, S. C., Baban, B., Tucker, M. A., et al. (2018). Oral NaHCO₃ activates a splenic anti-inflammatory pathway: evidence that cholinergic signals are transmitted via mesothelial cells. Journal of Immunology, 200(10), 3568–3586. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701605 • Link: academic.oup.com/jimmunol Europe PMC+1 – Rat + human work showing oral NaHCO₃ drives M2-like macrophage polarization, increased Tregs and reduced pro-inflammatory markers via a splenic pathway.
Alvarez, M. R., et al. (2024). The immunomodulatory effect of oral NaHCO₃ is mediated by the splenic nerve: multivariate impact revealed by artificial neural networks. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 21, 79. DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03067-x • Link: jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com BioMed Central – Demonstrates in rats that NaHCO₃’s anti-inflammatory effects are abolished by splenic denervation, linking bicarbonate directly to the inflammatory reflex.
Alvarez, M. R., et al. (2023). Can a basic solution activate the inflammatory reflex? A review of potential mechanisms, opportunities, and challenges.Journal of Neuroinflammation, 21, 79. DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106525 • Link: sciencedirect.com soar.suny.edu+1 – Integrative review: positions NaHCO₃ as a candidate IR activator, summarizing neural, immune and mechanistic data; emphasizes that clinical translation is still emerging.
Digestive / Duodenal bicarbonate physiology
Lee, M. G., et al. Molecular mechanisms of pancreatic bicarbonate secretion. Pancreapedia (updated review). • Link: pancreapedia.org/reviews/molecular-mechanisms-of-pancreatic-bicarbonate-secretion pancreapedia.org – Reviews how bicarbonate in pancreatic juice neutralizes gastric acid and creates the correct pH for digestive enzymes in the duodenum.
Takeuchi, K., et al. (2011). Regulatory mechanism of duodenal bicarbonate secretion. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology, 25(3), 371–386. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2011.04.005 • Link: sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect – Details how duodenal bicarbonate secretion protects mucosa from acid and maintains barrier integrity.
Pancreapedia – “Secretion of the human exocrine pancreas in health and disease.” – Describes coordination of pancreatic secretion, bicarbonate output and digestion. pancreapedia.org
CKD / Metabolic acidosis
de Brito-Ashurst, I., et al. (2009). Bicarbonate supplementation slows progression of CKD and improves nutritional status. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 20(9), 2075–2084. DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2008111205 • Link: jasn.asnjournals.org / EuropePMC research.amanote.com+1 – RCT in CKD stages 3–4 showing slower eGFR decline and improved nutritional markers with NaHCO₃ vs. standard care.
Navaneethan, S. D., et al. (2020). Clinical and cost-effectiveness of oral sodium bicarbonate therapy for older patients with chronic kidney disease and low-grade acidosis (BiCARB): a pragmatic randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Medicine, 18:91. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01542-9 • Link: bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com BioMed Central – Large pragmatic trial; no clear benefit of bicarbonate on primary clinical outcomes, highlighting that evidence is not uniformly positive.
Wang, A. Y., et al. (2021/2020). A systematic review and meta-analysis on effects of bicarbonate therapy on kidney outcomes. Kidney International Reports / KI Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2020.10.022 (typical) • Link: kireports.org kireports.org+1 – Concludes that bicarbonate may slow CKD progression in some settings, but overall data are heterogeneous and more high-quality RCTs are needed.
Bone health & Alkali supplementation
Frassetto, L. A., et al. (2009). Treatment with potassium bicarbonate lowers calcium excretion and bone resorption in older adults. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 94(1), 96–103. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-1452 • Link: academic.oup.com/jcem OUP Academic – RCT: KHCO₃ reduced urinary calcium and bone resorption markers, suggesting better bone mineral conservation.
Lambert, H., et al. (2015). The effect of supplementation with alkaline potassium salts on bone metabolism: a meta-analysis. Osteoporosis International, 26(1), 131–144. DOI: 10.1007/s00198-014-3006-9 • Link: link.springer.com Europe PMC+1 – Meta-analysis: potassium bicarbonate/citrate improves markers of bone resorption and calcium balance; supports the acid–base/bone concept.
Oncology (preclinical)
Robey, I. F., et al. (2009). Bicarbonate increases tumor pH and inhibits spontaneous metastases. Cancer Research, 69(6), 2260–2268. DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-5575 • Link: aacrjournals.org/cancerres aacrjournals.org+1 – Mouse models: chronic oral NaHCO₃ raises tumor extracellular pH and reduces metastases; important mechanistic but preclinical evidence.
Skin pH / acid mantle & barrier
Lambers, H., et al. (2006). Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 28(5), 359–370. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x • Link: via Wiley / Pascal Francis ResearchGate+1 – Demonstrates that lower skin pH is associated with better barrier properties and microbiome adherence.
Recent review – “The Skin Acid Mantle: An Update on Skin pH.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2024. DOI: (see JID Online) • Link: jidonline.org jidonline.org+1 – Summarizes how skin pH influences barrier integrity, inflammation and dermatologic disease, supporting the conceptual link between pH and skin health.
Clinical use & Side effects of standard NaHCO₃
Mayo Clinic (2025). Sodium bicarbonate (oral route): description and side effects. Link: mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sodium-bicarbonate Mayo Clinic – Official monograph noting use as an antacid and documenting gas, bloating and electrolyte issues as key side effects, supporting the rationale for enteric delivery.