HMB also referred to as β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate or β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyric acid works as a dietary supplement. HMB helps to increase muscle development and strength.
HMB supplements may also enhance the gains in the lean body mass; they work on muscle size, muscle hypertrophy, and the strength of the muscles.
HMB or β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate is a dietary supplement that helps to increase muscle development and strength. It's also helpful in exercise and to help protect the heart. Here you can learn if this is the right supplement for your needs and if it's as real as all of the hype.
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What Is HMB
HMB also referred to as β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate or β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyric acid works as a dietary supplement. As recent as the 90s, bodybuilders and athletes used it to assist them in building up their muscles.
As a chemical, it's produced in the liver naturally and in the muscles as well as the body breaks down amino acids such as leucine, which is one of the most vital amino acids in the body for developing muscles.
Leucine is renowned for its ability as an amino acid thanks in part to the broad spectrum of effects which include the vital role it plays in metabolizing protein, glucose homeostasis, recovery from exercise and insulin actions in the body.
Many of the benefits are due to the metabolites which are the products that are from the breakdown including the HMB. Thus, the supplements are more likely to give a more significant increase in the gain of muscle as opposed to other forms of supplements that create leucine.
The Health Benefits of β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB)
1) HMB supplements and exercise
HMB supplements can help to influence the strength and the lean body mass as they act as anti-catabolic agents; they minimize the protein breakdown and damage to the cells that are created during intense exercise.
The HMB supplements may also enhance the gains in a lean body mass; they work on the muscle size, on the muscle hypertrophy, and the strength of the muscles.
The supplements help to speed the recovery in trained and the untrained person during exercise that is high intensity and high volume.
The HMB may also affect the cellular receptors and the hormones like cortisol as well as testosterone and the production of insulin; it even works with the modulation of the enzymes that are responsible for the breakdown of the muscles.
It may also help to reduce the damage to the muscles from exercise.
2) HMB reduces muscle loss
Muscle loss happens with chronic disease and aging, and it also leads to decreased function physically, this causes a decrease in the quality of life and an increase in mortality.
According to recent evidence, HMB improves conditions that are characterized by wasting muscles like cancer and even AIDS, and it helps to promote healing in wounds from injuries or surgical procedures.
It's very efficient to help reduce or reverse the loss of any muscle mass, strength, and function which characterizes such conditions.
The supplementation is an ideal alternative for those who are under muscular stress, or for the elderly to prevent wasting muscles.
HMB Advantages:
- HMB helps in speeding recovery.
- HMB reduces muscle loss.
- Stimulates protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy.
- Increases attention, focus & energy.
- There may be a decrease in fat mass associated with HMB supplementation.
3) HMB Heart Protector
HMB also helps to reduce total cholesterol, the low-density lipoprotein of cholesterol and the blood pressure.
It shows the potential for protecting the cardio system and a decreased risk of stroke or heart attack.
Recent Studies on HMB Supplements
According to recent studies, there are many mechanisms in which HMB acts like a:
- The upregulation of the IGF-1 gene is commonly known to assist in building up muscle such as skeletal muscles.
- Stimulating protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy via an increase in the rapamycin or mTOR signal path.
- Suppressing the proteolysis via the inhibition of ubiquitinated or proteasome and proteolytic systems.
- Increase in the synthesis of cholesterol that is required to stabilize and form the membrane of the muscle or sarcolemma.
Firstly it's a calcium-free salt form HMB-CA, and empirical formula. Ca or HMB 2-H20 is a capsule form.
It's also worthy of note that the admin of the HMB in a free acid form is a faster increase of the HMB level of the blood.
Dosing HMB
It's available as an OTC (over-the-counter) supplement. It's affected via the timing of the intake before the workout.
To optimize the long-term effects of HMB, it is recommended to consume 3 g daily. It should be divided up into three servings that are two weeks before a seriously damaging muscle event.
HMB Side Effects
It’s showing no severe side effects as a supplement taken daily. It's safe over the course of several months. Pregnant or nursing women shouldn't take it.
