New research adds to the conversation around HMB with whey protein supporting healthy aging.
A newly published randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial examined how HMB may work alongside whey protein to support muscle protein turnover in healthy older adults.¹
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham, looked at 24 community-dwelling adults between the ages of 65 and 75. Participants completed two separate study visits. At one visit, they consumed 40 grams of whey protein. At the other, they consumed 40 grams of whey protein plus 3 grams of calcium HMB.¹
The goal was to understand whether HMB could provide additional muscle-support effects when paired with a large serving of high-quality protein.
Looking at Both Sides of Muscle Protein Turnover
Muscle health is influenced by two ongoing processes: muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown.
Muscle protein synthesis is the process of building new muscle protein. Muscle protein breakdown is the process of breaking down existing muscle protein. Both are normal parts of daily muscle remodeling, but the balance between them plays an important role in muscle maintenance over time.
In this study, researchers used stable isotope tracer methods to directly measure muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown before and after supplementation.¹ This approach helped provide a closer look at how skeletal muscle responded after consuming whey protein alone compared to whey protein with HMB.
What the Study Found
As expected, the 40-gram whey protein serving increased muscle protein synthesis in the study participants.¹
When HMB was added, researchers observed additional findings related to muscle protein turnover. Across the full study group, HMB helped maintain a longer suppression of muscle protein breakdown during the later post-feeding period compared to whey protein alone.¹
The study also reported a sex-specific finding. In older women, the addition of HMB led to a greater muscle protein synthesis response compared to whey protein alone.¹ This is notable because the study used 40 grams of whey protein, a large protein serving selected to strongly stimulate muscle protein synthesis. In older men, both interventions increased muscle protein synthesis, but the addition of HMB did not show the same added synthesis response.¹
Why These Findings Matter
Protein is a foundational part of supporting muscle health, especially with age. However, this study suggests that HMB may offer additional support when paired with protein by influencing both sides of muscle protein turnover.
The longer suppression of muscle protein breakdown is especially relevant because muscle maintenance is not only about building new muscle protein. It is also about supporting a healthy balance between synthesis and breakdown throughout the day.
While this was a short-term study measuring muscle metabolism over several hours, the findings provide useful mechanistic insight into how HMB may complement protein nutrition in older adults.
What This Means for myHMB®
For myHMB®, this study adds to the growing body of research behind HMB’s role in muscle health. The findings support the idea that HMB can complement protein nutrition by helping support muscle protein turnover, including both muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown.¹
This is important because many people already think of protein as the main nutrition tool for muscle support. Protein matters, but muscle maintenance is more than protein intake alone. This study helps reinforce the role of HMB as a science-backed ingredient that may work alongside protein, movement, and healthy lifestyle habits to support muscle health with age.
Important Study Context
It is important to view these findings in the context of the study design. This was a small, acute clinical study that measured muscle protein turnover over a three-hour period after supplementation. It was not designed to measure long-term changes in muscle mass, strength, mobility, or daily function.
The authors also noted that larger sex-stratified studies are needed to better understand the response observed in older women and to confirm these findings in a broader population.¹
The Takeaway
This new clinical study helps deepen the understanding of how HMB may support muscle health when combined with whey protein. The findings suggest that HMB may complement protein by supporting muscle protein turnover, including a longer suppression of muscle protein breakdown after feeding.¹
For older adults focused on muscle maintenance, the study reinforces a key message: supporting muscle health involves more than one pathway, and HMB continues to be an important ingredient in that conversation.
Reference
- Smith K, Abdullah H, Rudrappa S, et al. The Effect of β-Hydroxy-β-Methyl Butyrate (HMB) upon Acute Fed-State Muscle Protein Turnover in Older Men and Women: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2026;18(9):1449. doi:10.3390/nu18091449. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/9/1449#supplementary
