Cited by 56Muscle metabolism and nutritionExercise and Physiological ResponsesSports Performance and Training

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

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Silva, Vagner R., Belozo, Felipe L., Micheletti, Thayana O., Conrado, Marcelo, Stout, Jeffrey R., Pimentel, Gustavo D., Gonzalez, Adam M.·2017·Nutrition Research

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.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.nutres.2017.07.008

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  • Differing results are reported in studies on effects of resistance training associated with HMB supplementation on cytokines related to skeletal muscle hypertrophy and adipose tissue metabolic activity.

    “Moreover, such differing results also are reported in studies on effects of RT associated with HMB supplementation on cytokines related to skeletal muscle hypertrophy [29] and adipose tissue metabolic activity [30–32], which warrants further investigations.”

    From β-hydroxy-β -methylbutyrate supplementation benefits the effects of resistance training on body fat reduction via increased irisin expression in white adipose tissue (2021) · cites this paper as [29]

    Section 3.1.1 reports differing inflammatory-marker responses after resistance exercise with HMB-FA: no effect on MIP-1β, but an apparent attenuation of TNF-α and its receptor. It discusses these markers in relation to muscle damage and recovery, not specifically as cytokines related to skeletal muscle hypertrophy. The adipose-tissue portion of the citing sentence is assigned to other citations, not this source. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • A recent systematic review concluded that the free acid form of HMB may improve muscle and strength and attenuate muscle damage when combined with heavy resistance training, but more research is needed.

    “A recent systematic review by Silva and investigators [581] concluded that the free acid form of HMB may improve muscle and strength and attenuate muscle damage when combined with heavy resistance training but stated that more research is needed before definitive conclusions can be determined.”
  • HMB may attenuate markers of muscle damage, augment acute immune and endocrine responses, and prevent loss of lean body mass in catabolic situations.

    “and may attenuate markers of muscle damage, augment acute immune and endocrine responses while preventing loss of lean body mass in catabolic situations [134].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Ransone J, Neighbors K, Lefavi R, Chromiak J. The effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate on muscular strength and body composition in collegiate football players. J Strength Cond Res 2003;17:34-9.

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Authors
Silva, V. R., Belozo, F. L., Micheletti, T. O., Conrado, M., Stout, J. R., Pimentel, G. D., & Gonzalez, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR)
  • Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR)
  • University of Central Florida (US)
  • Universidade Federal de Goiás (BR)
  • Hofstra University (US)
Corresponding author
Gonzalez, Adam M.
Venue
Nutrition Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-09
Volume
45
Pages
1-9
ISSN
0271-5317 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2739253640
Cited by
56
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 1
FWCI
0.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrition Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (submittedVersion)
  • UNESP Institutional Repository (São Paulo State University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, ergogenic aids, resistance training, muscle recovery, muscle damage, muscle hypertrophy, muscle strength, skeletal muscle adaptation, high-intensity interval training, cardiorespiratory fitness, immune response, endocrine response
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Physical Fitness, Valerates, Exercise, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, MEDLINE, Muscle, Skeletal, Dietary Supplements, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training

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