In this randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial, 24 healthy community-dwelling older adults between the ages of 65 and 75 consumed either 40 g of whey protein alone or 40 g of whey protein plus 3 g of calcium HMB. Researchers measured muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown before and after supplementation to better understand how HMB may work alongside protein in the fed state. Both protein conditions increased muscle protein synthesis after feeding. In older women, the addition of HMB further increased the muscle protein synthesis response compared to protein alone. The study also found that HMB further suppressed muscle protein breakdown during the later fed period compared to protein alone. These findings add to the growing body of research supporting HMB as a complementary ingredient to protein for muscle health nutrition strategies in healthy aging.
