Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40248035›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2025

Effects of oral supplementation of β -hydroxy-β -methylbutyrate on muscle mass and strength in individuals over the age of 50: a meta-analysis.

Nan Li, Shanbin Chen, Yuxi He, Yamin Chen, Xiaosa Duan, Wenxing He, Qihe Wang, Sana Liu, Tongbo Liu, Haiqin Fang

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Muscle loss and GLP-1R agonists use.Acta diabetologica · 2026
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Nan Li *NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.
Shanbin Chen *Institute of Food and Nutrition Science and Technology, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China.
Yuxi He *Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shanxi, China.
Yamin ChenNHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.
Xiaosa DuanNHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.
Wenxing HeSchool of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China.
Qihe WangNHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.
Sana LiuNHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.
Tongbo LiuDepartment of Information, Medical Supplies Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Haiqin FangNHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) has shown potential in improving muscle protein turnover, which may be important for preventing muscle degradation in aging populations. The aim of this meta-analysis is to clarify the impact of HMB oral supplementation on muscle-related indicators and discover the interaction between dosage and duration. The findings will provide a scientific basis for the use of HMB oral supplementation in the management of muscle attenuation. Methods: A computer systems-based search for articles of randomized controlled trial (RCT) in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, EBSCO English databases and China Journal Full-Text Database (CNKI), Wan Fang Chinese databases, was conducted up to October 2023. Data were pooled using weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: A total of 21 RCTs were included, involving 1935 participants, all of them were > 50 years old. Results showed a positive impact of HMB oral supplementation in improving muscle mass (appendicular skeletal muscle mass: WMD = 1.56 kg, 95% CI: 0.03-3.09 kg and lean mass: WMD = 0.28 kg, 95% CI: 0.16-0.41 kg), strength (handgrip strength: WMD = 0.54 kg, 95% CI: 0.04-1.04 kg and five-time chair stand test: WMD = -0.73 s, 95% CI: -1.35, -0.11 s), and physical function (gait speed: WMD = 0.06 m/s, 95% CI: 0.01-0.10 m/s). Subgroup analysis revealed that the effect of a dosage of 3 g/d had significant improvement, and the effect of supplementation duration lasting > 12 weeks had significant improvement, and a dosage of 3g/day for more than 12 weeks was recommended. Conclusion: HMB oral supplementation can improve muscle mass, strength, and physical function. We recommend to implement supplementation at a dosage of 3 g for a duration exceeding 12 weeks to achieve optimal benefits. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/login, identifier 42024518958.

Indexed as

dosagedurationfunctionmassmetaanalysismusclestrengthβ-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate

Identifiers

PMID40248035
PMCPMC12003145

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.