The Effect of a 12-Week Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Highly-Trained Combat Sports Athletes: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

• Published in: Nutrients 2017-07, Vol.9 (7), p.753
• Main Authors: Durkalec-Michalski, Krzysztof, Jeszka, Jan, Podgórski, Tomasz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adaptation; Adult; Aerobic capacity; Athletes; Biomarkers - blood; Body composition; Body Composition - drug effects; Body fat; Combat sports; Cortisol; Creatine; Creatine kinase; Creatine Kinase - blood; Cross-Over Studies; Crossovers; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; Fat-free body mass; Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; L-Lactate dehydrogenase; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - blood; Lactate dehydrogenase; Lactic acid; Lactic Acid - blood; Male; Males; Martial Arts; maximal oxygen uptake; muscle power indices; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance - drug effects; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physical Exertion; Placebos; Poland; Randomization; sport; Sports; supplements; Testosterone; Testosterone - blood; training support; Valerates - administration & dosage; β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu9070753

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and the value of biochemical parameters in highly-trained combat sports athletes. Forty-two males highly-trained in combat sports were subjected to 12 weeks of supplementation with HMB and a placebo in a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind crossover manner. Over the course of the experiment, aerobic and anaerobic capacity was determined, while analyses were conducted on body composition and levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, testosterone, cortisol and lactate. Following HMB supplementation, fat-free mass increased ( = 0.049) with a simultaneous reduction of fat mass ( = 0.016) in comparison to placebo. In turn, after HMB supplementation, the following indicators increased significantly in comparison to the placebo: the time to reach ventilatory threshold ( < 0.0001), threshold load ( = 0.017) and the threshold HR ( < 0.0001), as well as anaerobic peak power ( = 0.005), average power ( = 0.029), maximum speed ( < 0.001) and post-exercise lactate concentrations ( < 0.0001). However, when compared to the placebo, no differences were observed in blood marker levels. The results indicate that supplying HMB promotes advantageous changes in body composition and stimulates an increase in aerobic and anaerobic capacity in combat sports athletes.