HMB - beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate

HMB - beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate - may help reduce muscle breakdown in athletes and help reduce recovery times, with benefits for both power and endurance athletes.

HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid, leucine, which it is believed has a role to play in the synthesis of proteins. Studies undertaken to date have produced mixed results with some showing athletes increasing strength when taking the supplement and others showing no gain.

Initially, it was believed that the biggest difference would be seen by power athletes, who regularly lift weights, although it is also now thought that there may be a benefit to endurance athletes as it appears it may reduce recovery times.

HMB is a naturally occuring substance, which is contained in grapefruit, alfalfa and catfish amongst other things.

It is currently thought that doses of 3g / day would benefit athletes, whereas we generally will have about 0.5g in a standard diet.

There are currently no known safety issues or any known drug interactions - and it is not on any banned lists (although as always, cross-contamination is possible).

Overall, it may well benefit athletes to take this supplement, but with the benefits as yet not substantively proved, it could just be a way of burning a hole in your pocket. You need to decide on this.

The information here is written by an athletics coach who has read widely into the subject and not a sports nutritionist, so is about gearing your food and drink to the practicalities of running.