Research suggests that HMB supplementation may support muscle strength and help preserve muscle mass, particularly in older adults with or at risk of sarcopenia and in individuals undergoing strenuous or unfamiliar exercise. The evidence base includes multiple randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, the majority of which point in a supportive direction, with pooled analyses finding statistically significant but modest improvements in muscle strength, lean mass, and functional outcomes such as walking speed and grip strength. Studies indicate that benefits appear most consistent in untrained individuals, older adults, and those experiencing muscle loss due to aging or illness, while effects in well-trained athletes are less clear and more variable across studies. Limitations are worth noting: several reviews flag concerns about low overall evidence quality, inconsistent study designs, small sample sizes, and the frequent use of HMB in combination with other nutrients, which makes it difficult to attribute observed benefits to HMB alone, meaning the full picture remains incomplete and the subject of ongoing investigation.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate supplementation and skeletal muscle in healt... | Review | 2017 | Supports | 97 |
| Effects of Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate Supplementation on Older Adults w... | RCT | 2023 | Supports | 96 |
| Effect of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on the Muscle Strength in the Elde... | Systematic review | 2022 | Supports | 96 |
| Ergogenic Benefits of β-Hydroxy-β-Methyl Butyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Bo... | Meta-analysis | 2025 | Supports | 95 |
| International society of sports nutrition position stand: β-hydroxy-β-methylb... | Review | 2025 | Supports | 95 |
| Effects of combined nutritional supplementation and exercise on proxy measure... | RCT | 2025 | Supports | 92 |
| Benefits of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate supplementation in trained and untrain... | Review | 2019 | Supports | 90 |
| Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate and sarcopenia: from biological plausibility... | Review | 2019 | Supports | 90 |
| Impact of specialized oral nutritional supplement on clinical, nutritional, a... | RCT | 2021 | Supports | 88 |
| Nutritional interventions to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physic... | Meta-analysis | 2021 | Supports | 88 |
| Prevalence of and interventions for sarcopenia in ageing adults: a systematic... | Systematic review | 2014 | Supports | 87 |
| β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate supplementation in older persons - an update. | Review | 2021 | Mixed | 85 |
| Elderly persons with ICU-acquired weakness: the potential role for β-hydroxy-... | Review | 2014 | Supports | 82 |
| Treating sarcopenia in older and oldest old. | Review | 2015 | Supports | 80 |
| Nutrition for Sarcopenia. | Review | 2015 | Supports | 80 |
| Muscle wasting and aging: Experimental models, fatty infiltrations, and preve... | Review | 2016 | Supports | 78 |
| Advances in muscle health and nutrition: A toolkit for healthcare professionals. | Review | 2022 | Supports | 72 |