HMB Beta Hydroxy Beta Methylbutyrate

About HMB Beta Hydroxy Beta Methylbutyrate

Beta hydroxy beta methylbutyrate, known as HMB, is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine. Only a small fraction of dietary leucine is converted to HMB in the body, and food contains it only in trace amounts, so supplements are the usual source for research. HMB is thought to reduce muscle protein breakdown and may support muscle protein synthesis and cell membrane integrity. It has been studied in athletes, in older adults with age related muscle loss known as sarcopenia, during bed rest and in people with muscle wasting from illness. Results in trained athletes have been inconsistent, and some early positive studies were criticized for their design. Findings in older adults and clinical populations have been somewhat more favorable, and HMB is included in some oral nutritional supplement products for older people and patients, but overall evidence remains mixed. HMB is generally considered well tolerated in the studies conducted to date.