Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine, commonly used as a dietary supplement to support muscle health and improve exercise performance. Its potential benefits include promoting skeletal muscle growth, enhancing exercise performance, and reducing muscle breakdown¹.

HMB is primarily known for its role in decreasing muscle protein breakdown, which can be particularly beneficial during periods of increased muscle catabolism, such as intense training or muscle-wasting conditions². Studies have shown that HMB supplementation may stimulate muscle protein synthesis by influencing pathways like mTOR, a critical signaling molecule that regulates cell growth and metabolism¹.

The effectiveness of HMB can vary depending on factors like age, sex, training experience, and the presence of muscle-wasting conditions¹. Some research suggests that it may help inhibit proteolytic pathways responsible for muscle degradation, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway². These benefits have made HMB a popular supplement among athletes and individuals looking to preserve muscle mass during weight loss or in clinical conditions associated with muscle wasting³.

Footnotes

1. Gabriel J Wilson, "Effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on exercise performance and body composition," NCBI, 2008. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. Milan Holeček, "Beta‐hydroxy‐beta‐methylbutyrate supplementation and skeletal muscle in healthy and muscle‐wasting conditions," NCBI, 2017. ↩ ↩²

3. Milan Holeček, "Beta‐hydroxy‐beta‐methylbutyrate supplementation and skeletal muscle in healthy and muscle‐wasting conditions," NCBI, 2017. ↩