In 2 randomized trials the blood levels of HMB were examined after eight males took either HMB, HMB plus glucose, glucose alone, or placebo.  These metabolic studies showed that the half-life of HMB in plasma is about 2.5 hours and that up to 85 percent of the HMB ingested is retained in the body.  Simultaneous glucose ingestion did not affect the percentage of HMB retained.