β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate free acid supplementation may improve recovery and muscle adaptations after resistance training: a systematic review

Abstract

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate free acid (HMB-FA) has been suggested to accelerate the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle after high-intensity exercise and attenuate markers of skeletal muscle damage. Herein a systematic review on the use of HMB-FA supplementation as an ergogenic aid to improve measures of muscle recovery, performance, and hypertrophy after resistance training was conducted. This review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We included randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials investigating the effects of HMB-FA supplementation in conjunction with resistance exercise in humans. The search was conducted using Medline and Google Scholar databases for the terms beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, HMB free acid, exercise, resistance exercise, strength training, and HMB supplementation. Only research articles published from 1996 to 2016 in English language were considered for the analysis. Nine studies met the criteria for inclusion in the analyses. Most studies included resistance-trained men, and the primary intervention strategy involved administration of 3g of HMB-FA per day. In conjunction with resistance training, HMB-FA supplementation may attenuate markers of muscle damage, augment acute immune and endocrine responses, and enhance training-induced muscle mass and strength. HMB-FA supplementation may also improve markers of aerobic fitness when combined with high-intensity interval training. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to determine the overall efficacy of HMB-FA supplementation as an ergogenic aid.

Effect of Ten Weeks of Creatine Monohydrate Plus HMB Supplementation on Athletic Performance Tests in Elite Male Endurance Athletes

“…In addition, acceptable supplementation could increase performance by helping athletes to recover from previous efforts [2] or by developing substrates or pathways of specific energy use for the actual sport capacities [3,4]. There are several supplements used to promote muscle recovery [5] through the replacement of energy substrates, such as creatine monohydrate (CrM) [6] or β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) [7,8], among others [9].…”

“…HMB, a metabolite from leucine, which is one of the three essential branched-chain amino acids, is another supplement the has been widely studied [7,8]. This ergogenic aid improves endurance capacity [18][19][20], enhances mitochondrial biogenesis by activation of gamma co-activator 1-alpha α (PGC-1α), thus promoting higher fat oxidation [21].…”

Physiological Changes after One Month of Exclusive Supplement Consumption and Exercise: A Case Study

“…A first group of nutrients was selected for its anabolic action: protein and creatine [17,18]. A second group of nutrients was selected for its anti-catabolic action, namely L-glutamine and HMB [19,20]. BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids) is considered by some researchers as both anti-catabolic and anabolic [21].…”

Effects of Leucine Metabolite (Β-Hydroxy-Β-Methylbutyrate) Supplementation and Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Markers: a Review on Recent Literature

“…It has also been reported that supplying HMB promotes favorable changes in aerobic [13][14][15] and anaerobic [9,13,16] capacity, and muscle recovery after exercise [10,[17][18][19][20] in different athletes. To date, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the aforementioned actions of HMB supplementation in a variety of populations [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. However, although recent studies are proposed some other actions of HMB with regard to effects on cardiovascular, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, these new aspects have received less attention.…”