HMB
Description
HMB (Beta-hydroxy- beta-methylbutyrate) is produced in the body from protein, specifically, the amino acid leucine.
Current interest comes from body builders and poultry farmers, seeking weight gains.
Current production is quite limited, so supplies are scarce and relatively expensive.
Method of Action
HMB appears to upgrade metabolism in a most favorable way: increasing muscle at the expense of fat. While this may sound "too good to be true", these anecdotal reports have been reproduced in vitro.
Also, strangely, improved performances in bicyclists have been repeated with horses (rather than the other way around).
Therapeutic Approaches
To increase endurance, muscle building (in athletes and the elderly), cholesterol lowering and fat burning.
Toxicity Factors
HMB occurs naturally in food and is even produced by the human body.
There might be a problem if you tried to obtain therapeutic dosages of HMB from food.
Researchers currently believe only 5% of dietary leucine is converted to HMB in the body.
To make 3 grams of HMB (which is believed to be the effective dose), you would have to take at least 60 grams of leucine or 20-60 grams of KIC (alpha-ketoisocaproate) per day, which is not only expensive and impractical but could cause severe gastro-intestinal distress.
References
Abumrad, N. et al., ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate increases fatty acid oxidation by muscle cells. FASEB (In Press). 1997.
Fuller, J. C., Jr. & Nissen, S.: Decreasing male broiler mortality by feeding the leucine castabolite ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate. Poultry Sci. 1994. 73:93.
Nissen, S. 1991. Method of enhancing immune response of mammals. US Patent: 4,992,470.
Nissen, S. 1994. A method for decreasing low density cholesterol and total cholesterol in man. U.S. Patent: 5,360,613: (Also filed foreign).
Nissen, S., J.C. Fuller, JR., J. Sell, P.R. Ferket and D.B. Rives. 1994. The effect ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate on growth, mortality and carcass qualities of broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 73:137-155.
Nissen, S., D. Morrical, and J. C. Fuller, Jr. The effects of the leucine catabolite ß-hydroxy- ß-methyl butyrate on the growth and health of growing lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 1994. 77 (Suppl. 1):243.
Nissen, S., et al., Effect of ß-hydroxy- ß-methyl butyrate (HMB) supplementation on strength and body composition of trained and untrained males undergoing intense resistance training. FASEB J. 1996, 10:A287.
Nissen, S., et al., Effect of leucine metabolite ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate on muscle metabolism during resistance-exercise training. J. Appl. Physiol. ,1996, 81(5):2095-2104.
Nissen, S., et al.,. Effect of feeding ß-hydroxy- ß-methyl butyrate (HMB) on body composition and strength of women. FASEB (In press). 1997.
Nissen, S. & Abumrad, N. N.: Nutritional role of the leucine metabolite ß-hydroxy ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) J. Nutr. Biochem (in press), 1997.
Ostaszewksi, P., et al., The effect of the leucine metabolite ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate (HMB) on muscle protein synthesis and protein breakdown in chick and rat muscle. J. Animal Science (in press). 1996.
Sousa, M. F.,et al., Calcium ß-hydroxy- ß-methylbutyrate. Potential role as a phosphate binder in uremia: In vitro study. Nephron 1996, 72:391-394.
Talleyrand, V., A. Dorn, D. Frank, J. Roth and S. Nissen. 1994. Effect of feeding ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate on immune function in stressed calves. FASEB J. 8:A951.
Van Koevering, M. & S. Nissen. 1992. Oxidation of leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproate to ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate in vivo. Am. J. Physiol.(Endocrinol. Metab.) 262: 27-31.
Van Koevering, M.T. et al.,. Effect of ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate on the health and performance of shipping stressed calves. Oklahoma State Animal Science Research Reports. 1993. pp. 312-316.
Vuckovich, M. D.etal., The effect of dietary ß-hydroxy- ß-methyl butyrate (HMB) on strength gains and body composition changes in older adults. FASEB (In press). 1997.
Vuckovich, M. D. & Adams, G. D.: Effect of ß-hydroxy- ß-methyl butyrate (HMB) on VO2 peak and maximal lactate in endurance trained cyclists. Am.Coll.Sports.Med. (In Press)
Zhang,. Z, C. Coates, J. Rathmacher and S. Nissen. 1994. Distribution of the leucine metabolite ß-hydroxy ß-methyl butyrate in foods and feeds. FASEB J. 8:A464.
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