What is HMB? The importance of HMB for supporting better muscle health.

MyHMB - scientifically known as HMB or beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate – is one of the most efficient nutritional aids for maintaining muscle mass. While many ingredients simply work to increase muscle protein synthesis, HMB is unique in its dual mechanism of simultaneously increasing muscle protein synthesis while also reducing muscle protein breakdown.

HMB is produced naturally in our bodies during the metabolism of the essential amino acid leucine. While many of HMB’s beneficial effects are shared with leucine, HMB offers more potent muscle retention and recovery benefits because of the additional effect it has on decreasing protein breakdown.

This article explains what HMB is and outlines its potential benefits. It also provides information on its safety and other recommendations.

May aid muscle growth in certain people

Companies commonly market HMB as a supplement that aids muscle growth. However, research on HMB in this area shows mixed results and is inconclusive.

Older studies, from the early 2000s and before, have found that it may help in certain populations.

These studies looked at the effects of HMB in untrained individuals and older people. Those who combined taking HMB with doing resistance training experienced more muscle growth than those who did resistance training alone.

In addition, a review of 7 studies in 287 older adults looked at the effects of taking 2–3 grams of HMB daily over periods ranging from 8 weeks to 12 months.

Participants who took HMB gained an average of 0.78 pounds (0.35 kg) more muscle than those who received a placebo supplement 

However, other studies have found that HMB didn’t influence muscle growth.

For example, a review of 10 studies looked at the effects of HMB in 384 adults ages 50 and overIt found that combining HMB supplements with physical exercise had little to no effect on changing body composition, strength, or exercise performance, compared with exercise alone. 

One analysis of 6 studies in 193 participants found it may not improve these factors for trained and competitive athletes, either.

It found that when athletes took 3–6 grams of HMB daily for a period of 3 days to 12 weeks, they experienced no increases in strength or changes in body composition.

In short, research on HMB and muscle growth shows mixed results. However, some research shows this supplement may benefit muscle growth for untrained individuals and older people.

May help reduce muscle breakdown

Research suggests HMB may help reduce muscle breakdown.

Test-tube studies suggest that HMB may help prevent muscle breakdown in various ways inside cells, such as by suppressing genes and enzymes that promote the breakdown of muscle proteins.

An analysis of 15 studies looked at the effects of taking HMB in 2,137 people. These participants had health conditions that promote muscle loss, such as cancer, HIV, kidney failure, and malnutrition.

The analysis found that taking 3–4 grams of HMB daily over a period of 7 days to 6 months was significantly more effective at preventing muscle loss than a placebo.

Similarly, other studies in older people have shown that taking HMB can help preserve muscle mass during periods of bed rest.

However, scientists need to do more research on HMB and its potential protective effects against muscle breakdown in a wider variety of participants, such as young people and healthy adults, before recommending it for this purpose.

May aid exercise adaptations

Some research has indicated that HMB could improve adaptations to exercise. This refers to a longer-term change rather than an immediate one.

For example, a 12-week study in 16 elite rowers found that taking 3 grams of HMB daily significantly increased aerobic exercise capacity and peak anaerobic power, and helped reduce body fat, compared with a placebo.

Anaerobic power refers to the maximum power you can produce during high-intensity exercise.

Similarly, another 12-week study in 42 combat sports athletes found that taking 3 grams of HMB daily significantly increased both aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity, compared with a placebo.

Other studies in athletes and healthy adults have shown that taking 3 grams of HMB daily has similar effects on aerobic and anaerobic capacity.

Why should you choose myHMB® instead of general HMB

TSI is a world-class manufacturer of innovative and functional health products. TSI strives to create the highest quality products that maximize and maintain active, healthy lifestyles for consumers. Since 1996, TSI has excelled in the innovative development of quality dietary ingredients and finished dosage products. Our commitment is to employing state-of-the-art operations and infrastructure to deliver best-in-class proprietary products that are functional, safe, and efficacious

Source: https://www.ulprospector.com/en/asia