M.E SUPPLEMENTS
By Werner Beukes, Deputy Editor
THE RE-EMERGENCE
OF
HMB
NEW RESEARCH SHINES A
LIGHT BACK ON THIS LARGELY
FORGOTTEN SUPPLEMENT
F
ITNESS ENTHUSIASTS,
STRENGTH ATHLETES AND
BODYBUILDERS TOOK NOTICE
WHEN A NEW SUPPLEMENT,
TOUTED AS THE ULTIMATE
MEANS TO INCREASE MUSCLE AND
DECREASE BODY FAT, HIT THE SHELVES
IN THE 1990S. HMB, or for the more
scientifically-inclined Beta-hydroxy-beta-
methylbutyrate acid, is a metabolite of
the essential amino acid Leucine. It came
under the spotlight when subjects in a
study showed increased muscle mass and
22
Muscle Evolution
strength gains while training on HMB
supplementation.
Researchers have for years been divided on the
exact benefits of HMB and the mechanism by which
it is able to boost strength and shed fat. Public
perception of the supplement was also influenced
because of the slew of negative publicity HMB
received for a while. There were reports in the past
of “fixed” results in studies specifically created by
supplement companies to sell more HMB products.
HMB subsequently received a bad reputation and
fell off the radar of promising performance boosters
when the hype around it eventually died down.
HMB ON
THE RISE
AGAIN
N
ow it seems as if HMB is
on the rise again, this time
with the backing of empirical
evidence. However, you’re
now likely to find it on sale
in a new form with improved
bioavailability. Two forms of
HMB are currently available and
have been used: Calcium HMB
(HMB-Ca) and a new form called
HMB-FA, which stands for HMB
free acid. The latter is thought to
increase plasma absorption and
rete