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Hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB) is a chemical that is made when the body breaks down leucine. Leucine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein.
HMB might promote muscle growth. It can be found naturally in small amounts in grapefruit, alfalfa, and catfish. It's also naturally made in the body.
People use HMB for building muscle or preventing age-related muscle loss. It's also used for athletic performance, muscle loss due to HIV/AIDS, muscle strength, obesity, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
- Sarcopenia. Oral HMB seems to increase muscle mass and may attenuate muscle loss in older adults. However, it may not offer additional benefit when used in conjunction with exercise.
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- Physical performance. Oral HMB, when taken in conjunction with participation in an exercise regimen, does not seem to improve physical performance in older adults.
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- Athletic performance. It is unclear if oral HMB, alone or in combination with other ingredients, is beneficial for improving performance in athletes at various levels.
Login for details - Cachexia. Oral HMB has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Cirrhosis. It is unclear if oral HMB is beneficial in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Login for details - Critical illness (trauma). It is unclear if a calcium salt of HMB (Ca-HMB) can reduce muscle wasting in critically ill adults.
Login for details - Diabetic foot ulcers. Oral HMB has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle damage. It is unclear if oral HMB is beneficial for reducing exercise-induced muscle damage.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle soreness. Small clinical studies suggest that oral HMB does not improve exercise-induced muscle soreness in trained and untrained males.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS-related wasting. Oral HMB has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Kidney failure. It is unclear if oral HMB reduces the incidence of complications in patients with kidney failure receiving maintenance hemodialysis.
Login for details - Malnutrition. It is unclear if an oral calcium salt of HMB (Ca-HMA) is beneficial in patients with, or at risk of, malnutrition.
Login for details - Muscle strength. The benefits of HMB for improving muscle strength seem to depend on the physical fitness of the individual. Although small clinical studies suggest HMB may be modestly beneficial in untrained adults, most research has shown no benefit in trained adults.
Login for details - Muscle fatigue. It is unclear if oral HMB is beneficial for reducing muscle fatigue in trained males.
Login for details - Obesity. It is unclear if oral HMB is beneficial for reducing abdominal adiposity.
Login for details - Oral mucositis. Oral HMB has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Postoperative recovery. Oral HMB has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Radiation dermatitis. Oral HMB has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone is unclear.
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When taken by mouth: HMB is possibly safe. Doses of up to 3 grams daily for up to one year have been used safely.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if HMB is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.It is not known if Hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB) interacts with any medicines. Before taking Hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB), talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
There are no known interactions with foods.
HMB and a calcium salt of HMB (Ca-HMB) have most often been used by adults in doses of 2.4-3 grams by mouth daily. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, B-Hydroxy B-Methylbutyrate Monohydreate, Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyric Acid, Calcium B-Hydroxy B-Methylbutyrate Monohydrate, Calcium HMB, Hidroximetilbutirato, HMB, HMB de Calcium, Hydroxyméthylbutyrate, Hydroxymethyl Butyrate, Hydroxyméthyl Butyrate.
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