myHMB Science and
Clinical Research

In this 12-week study, 35 subjects with the mean age of 79.1+7.5 years were examined to see how the nutritional intervention of HMB and Vitamin D would effect strength and quality of life. The results from the study confirm the beneficial effects on weight, handgrip strength, some domains of quality of life and Vitamin status of an enhanced enteral formula with Vitamin D and beta-hydroxy beta-methylbytyrate (HMB) in elderly patients.

An open label study was conducted in 80 women over 65 years of age. The women were randomized to receive either a protein drink containing 1.5 g of calcium HMB or no treatment (comparator group), and all participants attended a twice-weekly mild fitness program during the 8-week study. Thirty-two women in the supplemented group and 33 women in the comparator group completed the study. While no difference in the primary outcome was seen between the two groups (Short Physical Performance Battery), supplementation with the protein drink containing HMB did significantly improve several other outcomes. Leg strength, handgrip endurance, and muscle density were significantly improved in the HMB-supplemented group compared with the comparator group. The HMB-supplemented group also had an improved 6-minute walking test score at the end of the 8-week study. The authors concluded that the nutritional supplement containing HMB benefits fit elderly people in that HMB may delay or prevent age-related declines in some physical performance parameters.

This study in resistance-trained college-aged men measured recovery from 3 consecutive days of intense resistance training.  The training regimen consisted of heavy resistance raining on day one and metabolic resistance training on days 2 and 3. HMB addition to the whey protein supplemented in the study improved recovery by decreasing creatine kinase levels, decreasing inflammatory IL-6, and decreasing pain assessment during recovery.  Vertical jump power during recovery was also increased compared to those supplemented with whey protein alone. The authors concluded that the addition of HMB to whey protein enhanced the recovery benefits and athletic performance.

Sixteen elite rowers were supplemented with HMB for 12 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.  VO2max increased with HMB supplementation as well as time to ventilatory threshold, threshold load, and threshold heart rate.  The researchers concluded that supplementing with HMB was advantageous for endurance athletes in increasing aerobic capacity and power.

The free acid form of HMB (BetaTOR) is available in commercially produced capsules similar to that of CaHMB.  Therefore this study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetics of HMB free acid (BetaTOR) with CaHMB when both were administered in commercially manufactured capsule form.  The results of this study demonstrated that when the capsule delivery form was used for both the HMB free acid (BetaTOR) and CaHMB, plasma HMB levels were greater and peaked earlier, and HMB clearance from the plasma was greater with HMB in the free acid form.  This advantage allows athletes to better gauge the delivery timing of HMB intake in relation to exercise bouts.

In this study the researchers looked at the endocrine response after an acute heavy resistance exercise protocol.  Twenty resistance-trained subjects were randomized to receive either 1 gram of HMB free acid or a placebo 30 minutes before the exercise bout.  Endocrine responses from pre- to 30 min post exercise were measured. The researchers observed that both growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) area under the curve were increased with the HMB free acid in comparison to the placebo group.  These findings further demonstrate how HMB supplementation potentiates and increases the anabolic response of resistance exercise.

This study looked at the effect of 12 weeks of HMB supplementation, with and without resistance training (RT), on abdominal adiposity in elderly men.  Forty-eight men 66 to 78 years of age were assigned in a factorial design to either no exercise-placebo, RT-placebo, no exercise-HMB, or RT-HMB. After 12 weeks the RT-HMB group had significantly less abdominal adiposity when compared to the other treatment groups.  This study suggests that HMB combined with 12 weeks of RT decreases abdominal adiposity in elderly men.

The authors examined seven clinical trials, performing a meta-analysis which included data from 147 HMB-supplemented and 140 control supplemented adults over 65 years of age.  The results of the meta-analysis showed that HMB supplementation increased lean mass compared with placebo supplementation while no difference in fat mass was found. In conclusion these studies demonstrated the ability of HMB to preserve lean mass in the elderly, which could be particularly useful in preventing loss of muscle due to inactivity or other factors.