Interaction of Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate Free Acid and Adenosine Triphosphate on Muscle Mass, Strength, and Power in Resistance Trained Individuals

Abstract

Lowery, RP, Joy, JM, Rathmacher, JA, Baier, SM, Fuller, JC Jr, Shelley, MC II, Jäger, R, Purpura, M, Wilson, SMC, and Wilson, JM. Interaction of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate free acid and adenosine triphosphate on muscle mass, strength, and power in resistance trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 30(7): 1843-1854, 2016-Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) supplementation helps maintain performance under high fatiguing contractions and with greater fatigue recovery demands also increase. Current evidence suggests that the free acid form of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB-FA) acts by speeding regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle after high-intensity or prolonged exercise. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 12 weeks of HMB-FA (3 g) and ATP (400 mg) administration on lean body mass (LBM), strength, and power in trained individuals. A 3-phase double-blind, placebo-, and diet-controlled study was conducted. Phases consisted of an 8-week periodized resistance training program (phase 1), followed by a 2-week overreaching cycle (phase 2), and a 2-week taper (phase 3). Lean body mass was increased by a combination of HMB-FA/ATP by 12.7% (p < 0.001). In a similar fashion, strength gains after training were increased in HMB-FA/ATP-supplemented subjects by 23.5% (p < 0.001). Vertical jump and Wingate power were increased in the HMB-FA/ATP-supplemented group compared with the placebo-supplemented group, and the 12-week increases were 21.5 and 23.7%, respectively. During the overreaching cycle, strength and power declined in the placebo group (4.3-5.7%), whereas supplementation with HMB-FA/ATP resulted in continued strength gains (1.3%). In conclusion, HMB-FA and ATP in combination with resistance exercise training enhanced LBM, power, and strength. In addition, HMB-FA plus ATP blunted the typical response to overreaching, resulting in a further increase in strength during that period. It seems that the combination of HMB-FA/ATP could benefit those who continuously train at high levels such as elite athletes or military personnel.

Discrepancies in publications related to HMB-FA and ATP supplementation

“…At the time of its publication in Nutrition and Metabolism, this paper [1] was the first of what are now three published articles registered with the clinical trial identifier: NCT01508338. The initial publication [1] now includes further papers by Wilson et al [2] and a paper by Lowery et al [3]. All are from the same study.…”

“…We focus here on an unexplained inconsistency between these papers [1–3]. First, the supplement protocols for this study are detailed on ClinicalTrials.gov [4], but differ from the published papers and are not consistent between the three aforementioned papers.…”

Effective Nutritional Supplement Combinations

“…In a doubleblind, placebo-and diet-controlled study, the researchers reported that the combination of HMβ-FA with ATP enhanced LBM, power, and strength ( p < 0.001) in power-trained individuals. Moreover, during an overreaching phase of the trial, this supplement blunted a typical decrement in performance as evidenced by a further increase in strength during that period [ 215 ].…”

“…Rates of whole-body protein fl ux, proteolysis, and protein synthesis were estimated using urinary 15 N-urea and 15 N-ammonia enrichments in a subgroup [ 214 ]. Lowery et al [ 215 ] recently used a free acid form of HMβ (HMβ-FA) combined with ATP (400 g) during 12 weeks of structured resistance training. In a doubleblind, placebo-and diet-controlled study, the researchers reported that the combination of HMβ-FA with ATP enhanced LBM, power, and strength ( p < 0.001) in power-trained individuals.…”

Building Muscle Mass: Physiology, Nutrition, and Supplementation

“…However, the cumulative gains in lean mass at the end of the study were not signifi cantly greater than the control [ 183 ]. Another study assessed the outcomes of supplementing with HMB-ATP on lean body mass over a 12-week period in trained subjects and found a 12.7 % increase in lean body mass [ 186 ].…”