Research paper
Health Benefits of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation in Addition to Physical Exercise in Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Study answer
What this study found
HMB supplementation added to exercise showed no or fairly low impact on body composition, muscle strength, or physical performance compared with exercise alone. Across the included studies, no cognitive outcomes were reported. The review concluded that current evidence does not show clear added value for HMB in older adults and highlighted the need for future randomized trials, especially in people aged 80 years and older or those with frailty, cognitive impairment, or limited mobility.
- Study & population
- Systematic review with meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 384 participants.
- Intervention
- HMB supplementation was evaluated as an oral add-on to exercise programs, most commonly as calcium HMB.
- Key limitation
- The evidence base was small, with only 10 studies and 384 participants, and trial populations and exercise protocols were heterogeneous.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Both regular exercise training and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation are shown as effective treatments to delay or reverse frailty and reduce cognitive impairment in older people. However, there is very little evidence on the tru…