Low Dose of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Alleviates Muscle Strength Loss and Limited Joint Flexibility following Eccentric Contractions

Abstract

Objective: The optimal dose of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) required for decreasing muscle damage remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the supplemental effect of low-dose HMB on muscle damage following eccentric contractions (ECCs) of human elbow flexors.Methods: Twenty untrained men (aged 20-26; height, 169.4 ± 5.7 cm; weight, 68.2 ± 11.3 kg; body mass index, 23.7 ± 3.3) completed the double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design study. The subjects were randomly assigned to the ingestion of HMB supplement (HMB, n = 10) or placebo group (PL, n = 10). After the subjects of 1.5 g HMB or placebo pills per day for 2 weeks, they performed six sets of 10 ECCs at 100% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) using dumbbell. Changes in MVC torque, range of motion (ROM), upper arm circumference, muscle soreness, and muscle stiffness were assessed before, immediately after, 1, 2, 3, 5 days after exercise.Results: MVC torque was significantly higher in the HMB group than in the PL group immediately after (HMB, −56.8%; PL, −67.1%) as well as 3 (HMB: −25.5%, PL: −48.7%) and 5 (HMB: −22.5%, PL: −44.0%) days after performing ECCs (p < 0.05). Additionally, ROM was significantly higher in the HMB group than in the PL group immediately after (HMB, −29.8%; PL, −50.5%) and 5 (HMB: −26.1%, PL: −43.3%) days after performing ECCs (p < 0.05). No between-group differences were observed in other muscle damage markers.Conclusion: The low-dose HMB supplementation demonstrated a moderate overall impact and played a beneficial role in muscle dysfunction and joint flexibility following ECCs.