High-intensity interval training and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric free acid improves aerobic power and metabolic thresholds.
BACKGROUND
Previous research combining Calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (CaHMB) and running high-intensity interval training (HIIT) have shown positive effects on aerobic performance measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric free acid (HMBFA) and cycle ergometry HIIT on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak), ventilatory threshold (VT), respiratory compensation point (RCP) and time to exhaustion (Tmax) in college-aged men and women.


METHODS
Thirty-four healthy men and women (Age: 22.7 ± 3.1 yrs ; VO2peak: 39.3 ± 5.0 ml · kg(-1) · min(-1)) volunteered to participate in this double-blind, placebo-controlled design study. All participants completed a series of tests prior to and following treatment. A peak oxygen consumption test was performed on a cycle ergometer to assess VO2peak, Tmax, VT, and RCP. Twenty-six participants were randomly assigned into either a placebo (PLA-HIIT) or 3 g per day of HMBFA (BetaTor™) (HMBFA-HIIT) group. Eight participants served as controls (CTL). Participants in the HIIT groups completed 12 HIIT (80-120% maximal workload) exercise sessions consisting of 5-6 bouts of a 2:1 minute cycling work to rest ratio protocol over a four-week period. Body composition was measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Outcomes were assessed by ANCOVA with posttest means adjusted for pretest differences.


RESULTS
The HMBFA-HIIT intervention showed significant (p < 0.05) gains in VO2peak, and VT, versus the CTL and PLA-HIIT group. Both PLA-HIIT and HMBFA-HIIT treatment groups demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvement over CTL for Tmax, and RCP with no significant difference between the treatment groups. There were no significant differences observed for any measures of body composition. An independent-samples t-test confirmed that there were no significant differences between the training volumes for the PLA-HIIT and HMBFA-HIIT groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the use of HIIT in combination with HMBFA to improve aerobic fitness in college age men and women. These data suggest that the addition of HMBFA supplementation may result in greater changes in VO2peak and VT than HIIT alone.


BACKGROUND
The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT01941368).
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Edward H
EH
Robinson
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Jeffrey R
JR
Stout
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Amelia A
AA
Miramonti
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
David H
DH
Fukuda
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Ran
R
Wang
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Jeremy R
JR
Townsend
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Gerald T
GT
Mangine
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Maren S
MS
Fragala
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.|College of Education & Human Performance, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
Jay R
JR
Hoffman
Aerobic; Endurance; High-intensity interval training; Respiratory compensation point; VO2peak; Ventilatory threshold; β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyric free acid