Research
Macro partitioning
HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) supplementation acts as a potent stimulator of protein synthesis and inhibitor of protein breakdown, helping to slow or reverse muscle loss in aging, illness, or starvation.
If you are recovering from illness or are older, ask your doctor about adding HMB to your nutritional supplements. It helps stop muscle breakdown and builds muscle when combined with protein.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
HMB has been shown to act as a potent stimulator of protein synthesis as well as an inhibitor of protein breakdown. A growing body of evidence suggests that HMB or oral nutrition supplements containing HMB may help to slow or even reverse muscle loss in aging, illness, or starvation.
Why this rating
Supported by cited systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Refs 39, 40).
Source
The Underappreciated Role of Low Muscle Mass in the Management of Malnutrition
Nicolaas E.P. Deutz et al. · Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · 2018
DOI 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.11.021
narrative_reviewCited 194×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Malnutrition management must prioritize the maintenance and restoration of muscle mass rather than generalized weight gain, as low muscle mass is a critical determinant of adverse health outcomes including mortality, readmission, and functional decline.Good
- Resistance training is the most effective form of exercise for improving protein synthesis rates and reversing muscle loss, superior to aerobic exercise alone.Good
Related findings · Macro partitioning
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