The efficacy of a β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and biochemical markers in elite rowers: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study

β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) – a metabolite of leucine and 2-ketoisocaproic acid – has, for almost 20 years, drawn special attention regarding supplementation support in sports [1–5]. A major advantage of its use suggested in the literature is connected with its anticatabolic action, manifested particularly when there is a high load on the body and when muscle damage is experienced, which may result from the potential effect of HMB on the enhancement of the synthesis or the inhibition of the proteolysis of muscle proteins [2, 5–7]. The observed effect of HMB on the reduction of body mass loss, muscle mass loss, and the degree of cancerous cachexia, as well as slowed neoplasm proliferation, should also be mentioned here [8, 9]. These beneficial effects might be connected with the influence of HMB on the de novo synthesis of cholesterol [5, 7, 10], the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) [11, 12], the stimulation of the mTOR kinase pathway [6, 8, 12, 13] or the ubiquitin-proteasome system and caspase activity [7, 9, 14–16]. The possible impact of HMB on the activation of AMPK kinase and Sirt 1, may promote stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, higher oxygen consumption, increased efficiency of carbohydrate and fat metabolism, increased lipolysis and fat mass reduction [17, 18].

Studies assessing the effects of HMB in physically active individuals have mainly focused on verifying changes in the state of nutrition, assessing protein synthesis and proteolysis rates, and monitoring hormone levels and selected indices illustrating, for example, the degree of muscle damage and determination of changes in physical capacity [3, 19–22]. Since 1996, studies have been published that claim that HMB uptake may promote advantageous changes in body composition and strength, and reduced levels of muscle damage markers during resistance training [3, 18, 22, 23]. Further, in a meta-analysis by Nissen and Sharp [21], it was found that HMB supplementation for resistance exercise resulted in increased strength and fat-free mass by (net value) 1.4 and 0.28 % per week, respectively, in both trained and untrained individuals.

In contrast, the effect of HMB uptake on physical capacity has rarely been verified in endurance sports. HMB-supplemented cyclists and runners showed an increase in aerobic adaptation, which was assessed by maximal oxygen uptake (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 \max $$\end{document}V˙O2max), ventilatory threshold (VT), peak oxygen uptake (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2\mathrm{peak} $$\end{document}V˙O2peak), time needed to reach \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2\mathrm{peak} $$\end{document}V˙O2peak, a delay in the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), and a lower activity of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) [20, 24–26].

However, it’s important to observe that certain studies did not show the effectiveness of HMB in enhancing aerobic capacity [3, 20]. A lack of evidence for the effectiveness of HMB supplementation on changes in body composition, activity of muscle damage markers, or in hormone concentrations was also presented in studies on participants involved in resistance or volleyball training [3, 27–29].

In view of the inconclusive character of the study results conducted to date, and the relatively low number of studies investigating the effectiveness of HMB over a longer period on endurance trained athletes, the aim of this study was to verify the effect of HMB supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and the levels of biochemical markers in elite athletes practicing rowing.

The findings in this study indicate that a 12-week HMB supplementation in athletes practicing endurance sports influences a reduction of fat mass (p = 0.03). Despite the observed lack of differences in the diets of rowers in the course of the experimental procedure, changes in body weight found in both periods were probably caused by a low energy intake, witch concern only some athletes. It may have resulted from the insufficient coverage of high-energy expenditure connected with rowing training. As mentioned in the methodological part, dietary recordings were performed every second week, during the whole study, which proved that athletes did not change their dietary habits during the HMB supplementation and placebo period. Furthermore the potential impact energy intake is significantly reduced by randomised crossover design of the study. Thus, the observed effect of HMB seems considerable, since a reduction of body weight in supplemented athletes was connected with not significant reduction of FM and FFM, while in placebo group FFM reduction was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Additionally, despite the supreme importance of aerobic capacity in endurance sports, a significant role may also be played by a high level of anaerobic adaptation, particularly at the start or finish of the race [36, 37]. In this study, in relation to the initial values, only after HMB supplementation was an increase observed in peak power (p = 0.02). In turn, in relation to placebo administration after HMB intake, advantageous trends were observed indicating an increase in PP (p = 0.06). No differences were found in the case of the other indices of anaerobic capacity of rowers.

However, we would like to highlight here that the aim of the training regime in the investigated group of athletes was not to change body composition or anaerobic adaptation, but to increase their training potential. Probably for this reason, changes in fat-free body mass and power were less important, connected not only with the assumed negative energy balance (suggested by the reduced body weight of athletes), but particularly with the lack of an adequate exercise stimulus for the synthesis of muscle proteins. This may suggest a limited role of HMB, as postulated in the literature, in the activation of, for example, mTOR kinase pathways [6, 8, 12, 13], expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) [11, 12], or the reduction of activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and caspase activity [9, 14–16]. This thesis may be confirmed by the studies, in which individuals supplemented with HMB performed only resistance exercise, stimulating (to a greater extent) an increase in fat-free body mass, which was reported, for example, by Nissen et al. [2] (FFM: +1.21 kg_3.0gHMB vs. +0.8 kg_1.5gHMB vs. +0.4 kg_PLA) and Gallagher et al. [19] (FFM: +1.9 kg). In turn, upon HMB supplementation in experiments on volleyball players, in which a key role was played by muscle power, an increase in FFM (+2.3 kg) was recorded, as well as reduction of fat mass by ~0.6 kg_FM - comparable to that found our this study [3]. Moreover, in athletes administered the placebo in Portal et al. [3], a slight decrease in FFM (0.1 kg) and an increase of fat mass (3.6 % _FM) was found. Furthermore, with an increase in FFM in volleyball players, an increase was recorded in peak (1.7 W · kg⁻¹_HMB vs. 0.4 W · kg⁻¹_PLA) and average power (0.9 W · kg⁻¹_HMB vs. 0.1 W · kg⁻¹_PLA). These observations may be confirmed by a study by Molinari et al. [38], who recorded increased muscle power (9.2 % _HMB vs. 1.7 % _PLA) in volleyball players using HMB. In turn, in a study on judoists subjected to a 3-day limitation of energy intake (20 kcal · kg_bm⁻¹ day⁻¹) a reduction (p < 0.05) was recorded for fat mass (−0.85 % _HMB vs. 0.2 % _PLA) only in the group of athletes supplemented with HMB, although no differences were found in indices of anaerobic power between athletes using HMB and placebos [23]. Apart from the negative energy balance, this may have resulted from the fact that HMB supplementation lasted only 3 days, which seems too short to cause significant changes in systemic anaerobic potential. HMB impact on body composition observed also Caperuto et al. [39]. In rats supplemented with 320 mg · kg⁻¹ body weight of HMB, carcass fat significantly decreased. Such a large effect was not observed in our study, which we may assume could be related to the dose/response concept. Furthermore, no significant results from the supplemented group when compared to placebo might explain the fact, that HMB supplementation can increase adaptation and promotes metabolic changes in a time-dependent manner [39]. In turn, in the case of endurance sports, changes in FM described in this study seem to be explained by the increase in fatty acid oxidation, as well as lipolysis and insulin sensitivity (e.g., due to the stimulation of activation of AMPK kinase, Sirt1 and the dependent metabolic pathways) [18].

We need to stress here that there is a limited body of literature assessing the efficacy of HMB intake in endurance sports. In terms of the effect of HMB on body composition in runners, Knitter et al. [20], Lamboley et al. [26] and Robinson et al. [25] observed no differences in body composition in athletes who were administered HMB or a placebo. Does that mean that HMB has a definite effect on body composition and anaerobic adaptation only in individuals involved in resistance training? This study was conducted on trained rowers, practicing (first of all) to increase endurance, although their training procedure also included periodical resistance exercise. The recorded results seem to indicate efficacy of HMB supplementation in relation to the advantageous reduction of FM and a tendency to increase peak power. However, it seems obvious that the efficacy of HMB in stimulating an increase in FFM and anaerobic capacity may be observed particularly in the case of incorporation of resistance exercise and/or high-intensity exercise to the training regime, stimulating, to a greater extent, muscle protein synthesis pathways, which would enhance the potential anticatabolic role of HMB.

When assessing the effect of HMB supplementation in endurance sports, the effect of this preparation on aerobic adaptation seems to play a key role. Vukovich and Dreifort [24], after a 2-week HMB supplementation in cyclists, recorded an increase (p < 0.05) in peak oxygen uptake (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2\ \mathrm{peak} $$\end{document}V˙O2 peak) by 4 % and an extension of the time required to reach \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2\mathrm{peak} $$\end{document}V˙O2peak by 3.6 %. Moreover, values of these indices increased (p < 0.05) also in comparison to the results recorded in groups administered leucine or a placebo. Similar results were observed in this study, in which \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 \max $$\end{document}V˙O2max of rowers increased after 12-week HMB supplementation, both in relation to the placebo treatment and values before its supplementation (Pre_HMB). In the study by Vukovich and Dreifort cited above, the administration of HMB also led to an advantageous increase in the lactate threshold, which, when expressed in percent \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2\mathrm{peak} $$\end{document}V˙O2peak, increased by 8.6 %. Also found was a delayed OBLA observed at the oxygen uptake, which increased by 9.1 %. Thus, these results seem to confirm the effect of HMB supplementation observed in this study on the increase in aerobic adaptation of athletes. Furthermore, these observations correspond also to the latest results reported by Robinson et al. [25], who, in a group of males and females after a 4-week HMB supplementation, combined with high-intensity interval training, found levels of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2\mathrm{peak} $$\end{document}V˙O2peak higher by almost 5.9 % (p = 0.032) and 9.8 % (p < 0.001), respectively, in comparison to the placebo and the control groups. The authors also found VT to be higher by almost 9.3 % (p = 0.017) and 16.5 % (p = 0.012), respectively. Another important point showed Lamboley et al. [26], in the previously described study, also showed an advantageous effect of HMB supplementation resulting from the considerable increase in \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 \max $$\end{document}V˙O2max by as much as 7.7 ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹. In both groups, a significant improvement was also found in VT (+11.1 % _HMB vs. +9.0 % _PLA). Despite the increase in \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 \max $$\end{document}V˙O2max values recorded in this study in the group supplemented with HMB, the differences were not high, which suggests that they may have resulted, to a considerable degree, from the fact that participants in this study practiced sports as recreation and, prior to the onset of the experimental procedure, had no aerobic training. In contrast, this study involved elite rowers and, even a slight increase in aerobic capacity in their case, may be considered to be particularly advantageous.

Thus when considering the results of this study, literature data as well as the above mentioned potential mechanisms of HMB action, connected (for example) with the regulation of muscle protein expression, maintenance of cell wall integrity or stimulation of activity of AMPK kinase and Sirt 1, which promotes stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, higher oxygen consumption and increased efficiency of carbohydrate, glycogen and fat metabolism [17, 18, 39, 40], it may be inferred that HMB supplementation under specific conditions seems to also enhance the increase in aerobic capacity. Increasing the usability and availability of energy substrates thus appears to explain the growth of aerobic adaptation (VO₂max, VT) of rowers. Observed after HMB supplementation physical capacity increase, could be in practice due to the more efficient use of exercise stimulus, as well as increase the efficiency of post-exercise recovery period, which are necessary to achieve super compensation.

It turns out that HMB supplementation applied in this study had no effect on the levels of blood biochemical markers. Literature data also did not clearly show the effect of HMB on changes in their concentrations. Nissen et al. [2] and van Someren et al. [22], following HMB supplementation, found a lower activity of CK and/or LDH in the blood of examined individuals. The above observations seem to suggest that HMB supplementation may play a significant role in the reduced rate of muscle damage. However, long-term HMB supplementation in trained individuals, e.g. as a result of homeostatic mechanisms in the organism, may reduce the effects of this substance on the level of adaptation of the organism verified by the analyses of levels of standard biochemical markers in the blood. To confirm this thesis, Gallagher et al. [19], in a group receiving HMB, showed a lower CK activity (by approximately 200 U · kg⁻¹) 48 h after a series of resistance exercises; however, this effect disappeared after a longer supplementation period. In turn, in runners, Knitter et al. [20] observed lower concentrations of CK and LDH in a group supplemented with HMB immediately after they completed a 20 km race, as well as during the three successive days after this exercise. Thus, the cited studies seem to confirm the hypothesis on the effect of HMB on the stimulation of sarcolemma integrity and inhibition of proteolytic activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This may indicate the advisability of HMB supplementation in sports due to the reduced rate of muscle damage as a consequence of intensive exercise loads.

It’s important to observe that a limited number of studies analysed the effect of HMB uptake on the systemic hormone metabolism. In comparison to the resting-state hormone concentrations recorded prior to the tests and following 12 weeks of HMB administration combined with power training, Kreamer et al. [41] showed a significant increase in the pre-exercise concentration of testosterone and a reduction of cortisol levels, which were not observed in the control. In supplemented group 15 min after the completion of exercise, blood testosterone concentration increased considerably, but after 30 min, the level of this hormone was similar to that recorded in the control group. No significant differences were observed in the blood concentrations of cortisol, although in this supplemented group a reduced level 30 min after exercise was found. In a recent paper of Townsend et al. [42] testosterone levels significant increased immediately after exercise in comparison to baseline, but also returned after 30 min, in resistance trained men, supplemented with HMB. This finding might explain no significant results observed in this study. Seems to be possible that HMB supplementation can promotes hormonal changes observed in a time-dependent manner.

We would like to highlight here that numerous studies are consistent with the results of this study and do not confirm the effect of HMB, in comparison to placebo, on activity of CK and LDH [19, 27–29, 43] or blood testosterone concentration [3, 27, 28]. We need to mention here that when assessing levels of biochemical markers following supplementation, it is difficult to reliably compare the presented studies. The final results may have been affected not only by the dose of the preparation, but also by the duration of supplementation, the training standard of athletes involved in the experiment and applied training loads.

This study indicates that HMB supplementation in athletes training for endurance sports promotes the advantageous increase in aerobic capacity of the organism, mainly due to the increased values of maximum oxygen uptake and indices of the VT, as well as the reduction of fat mass. It may also enhance peak anaerobic power. Long-term HMB supplementation seems not only to have a significant effect on changes in activity of selected intramuscular enzymes testosterone and cortisol concentration, but also on values of the T/C ratio in blood.