Dr. Grey AI

HMB

HMB is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine that plays an anticatabolic role in muscle tissue. In addition to preventing muscle protein breakdown, HMB may help improve strength and muscle mass in older adults, but evidence of a benefit for athletes is lacking.

Quick Answer

What it is

HMB is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine that plays an anticatabolic role in muscle tissue. In addition to preventing muscle protein breakdown, HMB may help improve strength and muscle mass in older adults, but evidence of a benefit for athletes is lacking.

Key findings

  • Grade C: Blood glucose (Metabolic Health)
  • Grade D: Body Fat
  • Grade D: Anaerobic Capacity

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: HMB

Quick Facts: HMB

  • Best Evidence:Grade C
  • Conditions Studied:11
  • Research Outcomes:132
  • Key Effect:Metabolic Health
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C2
D11
11 conditions · 132 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
9 studies
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
9 studies
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
8 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
↑Improves
?
Urea
1 study
↑Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
↑Improves
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Urea
1 study
↑Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
none
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Strength
↑Improves
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Weight
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
4 studies
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Damage
↑Worsens
?
Bone Mineral Density
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Training Volume
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Soreness
↓Improves
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
none
?
Fat-free mass (FFM)
4 studies
↑Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
none
?
Food Intake
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Bone Mineral Density
1 study
↑Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Damage
↑Worsens
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
4 studies
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Damage
↑Worsens
?
Bone Mineral Density
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
2 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Testosterone
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Training Volume
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
Growth Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
IGF-1
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Soreness
↓Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
↑Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Urea
1 study
↑Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
Bone Mineral Density
1 study
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Growth Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
IGF-1
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Urea
1 study
↑Improves
D
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
No effect
1 study
none
?
Muscle Damage
↑Worsens
?
Cortisol
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Muscle Soreness
↓Improves
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Training Volume
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Range of Motion
1 study
↑Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Damage
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Muscle Soreness
↓Improves
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Training Volume
1 study
↑Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Power Output
↑Improves
D
Cortisol
No effect
1 study
none
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Growth Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
IGF-1
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Strength
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
↑Worsens
?
Power Output
↑Improves
?
Weight
6 studies
↑Worsens
?
Food Intake
4 studies
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Damage
↑Worsens
?
Bone Mineral Density
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Training Volume
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↑Worsens
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Soreness
↑Worsens
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↑Worsens

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