Study Indicates Uselessness of HMB-Supplementation

Figure 1: Molecular structure of
HMB (HMDB v2.5)

In view of the fact that the educated gymrat will already have known this for years, it is hardly worth being cited that scientists (Slater. 2010) provide further evidence for the ineffectiveness of oral HMB supplementation in the latest issue of the International Journal of Sports Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. None of the variables the scientists measured (body mass, body composition - using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and 3-repetition maximum isoinertial strength, markers of muscle damage and muscle protein turnover), was influenced by supplementing 3g HMB per day:

While the training and dietary intervention of the investigation resulted in significant strength gains (p < .001) and an increase in total lean mass (p = .01), HMB administration had no influence on these variables. Likewise, biochemical markers of muscle protein turnover and muscle damage were also unaffected by HMB supplementation.

In view of the fact that the dosage used in this study was well above that of what most supplements, which usually include HMB amont other ingredients, offer, it does not make sense to watch for the acronym HMB on the label of a new supp to decide whether or not to buy it.