Supplementation with a combination of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), arginine, and glutamine is safe and could improve hematological parameters.
BACKGROUND
Combining the amino acids arginine and glutamine with the leucine metabolite beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has been shown to reverse lean tissue loss in cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Although each of these nutrients has been shown to be safe, the safety of this mixture has not been reported. Three double-blind studies examined the safety of the combination of HMB, arginine and glutamine on blood chemistries, hematology, emotional profile, and adverse events.


METHODS
Study 1 was conducted in healthy adult males (n = 34), study 2 was in HIV patients with AIDS-associated weight loss (n = 43), and study 3 was in cancer patients with wasting (n = 32). Volunteers were assigned to either a placebo or a mixture of 3 g HMB, 14 g arginine, and 14 g glutamine per day.


RESULTS
Across the 3 studies, HMB, arginine, and glutamine supplementation was not associated with any adverse indicators of health. The only significant changes noted were positive indicators of health status. HMB, arginine, and glutamine supplementation was associated with an improvement in emotional profile (p = .05), a decreased feeling of weakness (p = .03), and increased red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes, and eosinophils (p < .05) when compared with placebo-supplemented subjects. Blood creatinine levels were not changed. However, blood urea nitrogen increased (p = .01) with HMB, arginine, and glutamine supplementation, which was possibly caused by the additional nitrogen consumed or to the fact that ureagenesis is influenced by arginine and glutamine supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that HMB, arginine, and glutamine can be safely used to treat muscle wasting associated with AIDS and cancer.
Rathmacher
J A
JA
Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. jarat@iastate.edu
Nissen
S
S
Panton
L
L
Clark
R H
RH
Eubanks May
P
P
Barber
A E
AE
D'Olimpio
J
J
Abumrad
N N
NN
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019247:HIV Wasting Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012449:Safety
D005973:Glutamine; D001120:Arginine; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid