Trial reportJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2020
Combined protein and calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate induced gains in leg fat free mass: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
Trial report in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Ergogenic Benefits of β-Hydroxy-β-Methyl Butyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Body Composition and Muscle Strength: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of oral administration of β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate on lean body mass in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European geriatric medicine · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- HMB supplementation combined with high-intensity functional exercise supports aerobic capacity but not strength in trained and untrained males: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026Trial
- [Efficacy of Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive Therapy Combined With β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate Nutritional Supplementation in Older Adults With Sarcopenic Obesity].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2025Trial
- International society of sports nutrition position stand: β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB).Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025Review
- Can Dietary Supplements Support Muscle Function and Physical Activity? A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Whey Protein Mitigates Oxidative Stress Injury and Improves Protein Synthesis in Mouse Skeletal Muscle by Regulating the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 Axis and AMPK/TSC2/mTOR/4EBP1 Pathway.Journal of food science · 2025Article
- High-dose medium-term HMB supplementation did not trigger body composition changes in trained and untrained males under usual conditions or high-intensity functional exercise.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- The Effects of Calcium-Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe leucine metabolite β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is widely used as an ergogenic supplement to increase resistance-training induced gains in fat free mass (FFM) and strength in healthy adults. Recent studies have questioned the effectiveness of HMB, particularly when a high protein diet is habitually consumed. To investigate the additive resistance-training induced effects of HMB and protein in untrained individuals, we conducted a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study that compared the effects of combined protein and HMB supplementation to protein supplementation alone on FFM and muscle strength after 12-week resistance training.
methodsSixteen healthy men (22 ± 2 yrs) performed a periodized resistance-training program for twelve weeks (four sessions per week). The program comprised two mesocycles, characterized by a linear periodization and non-linear periodization, respectively, and separated by a 1-week tapering period. All participants received 60 g of whey protein on training days and 30 g of whey protein (WP) on non-training days. Participants were randomly assigned to additionally receive 3 g of calcium HMB (WP + HMB) or a placebo (WP + PLA). Body composition and physical fitness were tested before and after the 12-week training program. Whole-body and arm and leg fat free mass (FFM) were assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy; upper arm and leg fat free cross sectional areas were also quantified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); upper and lower body strength were measured by One-repetition maximum (1-RM) bench press and leg press.
resultsWhole-body and segmental FFM increased in both groups (P < 0.001). However, gains in leg FFM were higher in WP + HMB vs. WP + PLA (arm FFM: + 6.1% vs. + 9.2%, P = 0.2; leg FFM: + 14.2% vs. + 7.0%, P < 0.01). No change in fat mass was observed (P = 0.59). 1-RM increased in both groups (P < 0.001).
conclusionsCombined protein and HMB supplementation resulted in segmental, but not whole-body increases in FFM compared to protein supplementation alone. These findings could explain some of the controversial effects of HMB reported in previous studies and have practical implications for maximizing training-induced gains in FFM and clinical conditions associated with skeletal muscle deconditioning such as aging, sedentary lifestyles, bed rest and spaceflight.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.