Calcium beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate, as a dietary supplement, may affect protein synthesis. During resistance training, calcium beta-HMB has been reported to reduce muscle catabolism, promote fat loss, increase strength and fat-free mass in athletic and nonathletic populations Calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate or calcium HMB is a nutritional supplement, which represents a calcium salt of beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB). The latter is a leucine metabolite produced in the body through oxidation of the ketoacid of leucine (ketoisocaproate, KIC). Because leucine plays an important regulatory role in protein metabolism and due to the conversion of leucine to KIC, several researchers [have presumed that KIC was the active ingredient responsible for most of the beneficial effects of leucine on protein metabolism. |