News

July 2018

What is HMB?

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB) is a supplement ingredient that's growing in popularity among fitness enthusiasts and weight trainers. It's thought that HMB can help promote muscle growth by preventing or slowing muscle cell damage that occurs after intense exercise.

But does taking HMB improve athletic performance? Some research shows that taking HMB might improve body composition and reduce muscle damage when used during resistance training. Other research shows no benefit. There is some evidence that HMB helps improve athletic performance in novice, but not in well-trained, athletes.

Find out more details on safety, doses used, and whether any possible drug interactions are a concern in our complete scientific monograph.

The information in this brief report is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions. Copyright © 2024 NatMed. Commercial distribution or reproduction prohibited. NatMed is the leading provider of high-quality, evidence-based, clinically-relevant information on natural medicine, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, functional foods, diets, complementary practices, CAM modalities, exercises and medical conditions. Monograph sections include interactions with herbs, drugs, foods and labs, contraindications, depletions, dosing, toxicology, adverse effects, pregnancy and lactation data, synonyms, safety and effectiveness.