Effect of leucine metabolite β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate on muscle metabolism during resistance-exercise training
Abstract
The effects of dietary supplementation with the leucine metabolite beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) were studied in two experiments. In study 1, subjects (n = 41) were randomized among three levels of HMB supplementation (0, 1.5 or 3.0 g HMB/day) and two protein levels (normal, 117 g/day, or high, 175 g/day) and weight lifted for 1.5 h 3 days/wk for 3 wk. In study 2, subjects (n = 28) were fed either 0 or 3.0 g HMB/day and weight lifted for 2-3 h 6 days/wk for 7 wk. In study 1, HMB significantly decreased the exercise-induced rise in muscle proteolysis as measured by urine 3-methylhistidine during the first 2 wk of exercise (linear decrease, P < 0.04). Plasma creatine phosphokinase was also decreased with HMB supplementation (week 3, linear decrease, P < 0.05). Weight lifted was increased by HMB supplementation when compared with the unsupplemented subjects during each week of the study (linear increase, P < 0.02). In study 2, fat-free mass was significantly increased in HMB-supplemented subjects compared with the unsupplemented group at 2 and 4-6 wk of the study (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with either 1.5 or 3 g HMB/day can partly prevent exercise-induced proteolysis and/or muscle damage and result in larger gains in muscle function associated with resistance training.
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Supplementing with 1.5 to 3 g/day of calcium HMB during resistance training can increase muscle mass (+0.5-1 kg greater than controls during 3-6 weeks of training) and strength particularly among untrained subjects initiating training and the elderly.
“It is well-documented that supplementing with 1.5 to 3 g/day of calcium HMB during resistance training can increase muscle mass (+ 0.5–1 kg greater than controls during 3–6 weeks of training) and strength particularly among untrained subjects initiating training [168–173] and the elderly [174].”
From ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations (2018) · cites this paper as [171]
HMB supplementation at 1.5 and 3 g/day significantly increased lean body mass and strength in untrained males, with 3 g showing additional benefits.
“Initial work by Nissen and colleagues [171] showed significant increases in lean body mass and strength with doses 1.5 and 3 g/day in untrained males, with the 3 g dose showing additional benefits over the lower dose.”
From ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations (2018) · cites this paper as [171]
Previous studies demonstrated that resistance training and HMB increased muscle mass and strength and reduced body fat.
“Previous studies demonstrated that RT and the metabolite of the branched-chain amino acid leucine, β-hydroxyβ-methylbutyrate (HMB), increased muscle mass and strength and reduced body fat [14–18], despite recent findings [19, 20].”
Supplementation of HMB (3g/day) enhances gains in fat-free mass following 6 weeks of resistance training.
“Supplementation of HMB (3g/day) has previously been shown to enhance gains in fat-free mass following 6 weeks of resistance training [180].”
From New strategies in sport nutrition to increase exercise performance (2016) · cites this paper as [180]
HMB supplementation resulted in larger gains in muscle function associated with resistance training.
“and resulted in larger gains in muscle function associated with resistance training [180] on [108].”
From New strategies in sport nutrition to increase exercise performance (2016) · cites this paper as [180]
The adaptive response to HMB supplementation appeared to be mediated by prevention in exercise-induced proteolysis (as assessed via urine 3-methylhistidine appearance) and muscle damage.
“This adaptive response appeared to be mediated by prevention in exerciseinduced proteolysis (as assessed via urine 3-methylhistidine appearance), muscle damage”
From New strategies in sport nutrition to increase exercise performance (2016) · cites this paper as [180]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Nissen, S., Sharp, R., Ray, M., Rathmacher, J. A., Rice, D., Fuller, J. C., Connelly, A. S., & Abumrad, N.
- Affiliations
- Iowa State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 1996-11-01
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 2095-2104
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2148166373
- Cited by
- 393
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 1.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Keywords
- beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, leucine metabolites, resistance training, muscle protein degradation, muscle damage, creatine kinase, 3-methylhistidine, dietary supplementation, protein intake, fat-free mass, muscle function
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Composition, Body Weight, Diet, Dietary Fats, Dietary Proteins, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Leucine, Male, Methylhistidines, Muscle Proteins, Physical Education and Training, Valerates, Weight Lifting, Muscle, Skeletal
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