A new SupplySide feature puts a timely spotlight on women’s muscle health — an area often overlooked in the supplement space. Sponsored by TSI Group, the article calls for a shift in how the industry approaches women’s wellness, advocating for broader support that includes muscle strength, function, and resilience.
Rethinking the Role of Muscle in Women’s Health
For decades, women’s supplements have centered around categories like beauty, reproductive health, and metabolism. Muscle-building has largely been reserved for men or athletes — despite mounting evidence that maintaining muscle mass is essential for women’s long-term health.
Starting around age 30, adults begin to lose between 3% to 5% of their muscle mass every decade. For women, this decline is often accelerated by hormonal changes, aging, and cultural messaging that prioritizes thinness over strength. As Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan, a professor of exercise science and nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, notes: “Muscle is an essential tissue that plays a direct role in quality of life and functionality.”
The Risks of Being Under-Muscled
Without proper support, women face a cascade of risks linked to muscle loss, including:
- Osteoporosis: Muscle loss and bone loss are closely connected. Postmenopausal women with sarcopenia are significantly more likely to develop osteoporosis.¹
- Loss of Independence: Everyday tasks like climbing stairs or carrying groceries become more difficult.
- Increased Fall Risk: Weakened muscles make balance and stability harder to maintain.
These issues don’t just impact physical health. They affect overall quality of life, mental well-being, and longevity.
Proactive Solutions: Strength Training and Smart Supplementation
Fortunately, the article outlines several proactive strategies for preserving muscle health:
- Strength Training: Lifting weights 2–3 times per week can significantly improve strength and muscle tone in women of all ages.²
- Adequate Protein Intake: Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle due to its amino acid content. Without adequate protein and particularly essential amino acids, the body cannot properly repair or grow muscle tissue. This becomes even more critical as women age and muscle breakdown naturally accelerates.
- Creatine Supplementation: Creatine supports muscle energy production during high-intensity exercise and helps increase muscle size, strength, and endurance. However, women typically have 70% to 80% lower natural creatine stores than men, and levels can dip further during menstruation and menopause. Supplementing with creatine may help close this gap and improve exercise capacity, recovery, and even bone health.
When combined with resistance training, both protein and creatine become powerful tools for maintaining lean mass and overall vitality.
The Science Behind myHMB®
At the center of the article is myHMB®, a clinically researched form of β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB). Derived from the amino acid leucine, myHMB® works in two key ways: by decreasing muscle protein breakdown and increasing muscle protein synthesis via the mTOR pathway.
Research on HMB includes:
- 150+ human studies
- 100+ review articles
- 14 meta-analyses
Studies highlighted in the article show benefits across a wide range of age groups, from increased strength in women aged 20–45, to improved muscle mass and endurance in women over 65.
Formulation Versatility for Women’s Wellness
The article also points to the flexibility of myHMB® in product development. It pairs well with a variety of ingredients and fits into multiple supplement categories, including:
- Exercise support (with creatine, protein, and Vitamin D)
- Beauty-from-within formulas (with collagen, biotin, omega-3s)
- Healthy aging blends (with calcium, magnesium, turmeric, and CoQ10)
- Recovery supplements (with B12, beta-alanine, and electrolytes)
Whether used on its own or as part of a broader formulation, myHMB® offers meaningful support for women seeking to stay strong, active, and independent through every stage of life.
A Call for a Broader Approach to Women’s Supplements
The SupplySide article makes it clear: it’s time to move beyond narrow definitions of women’s health. Muscle mass, strength, and performance aren’t just fitness goals. They’re vital indicators of long-term health and resilience.
By incorporating ingredients like myHMB®, creatine, and protein into formulations, brands have an opportunity to meet the evolving needs of women with products rooted in science, not stereotypes.
Learn More About Women’s Muscle Health with myHMB®
For more science and resources on how myHMB® supports women’s strength, performance, and healthy aging, visit our Women’s myHMB® page.
Click here to download the article.
References:
- Yu X et al. “A pooled analysis of the association between sarcopenia and osteoporosis.” Medicine (Baltimore). 2022;101(46).
- Isenmann E et al. “Resistance training alters body composition in middle-aged women depending on menopause – A 20-week control trial.” BMC Womens Health. 2023;23:526.
