title: The efficacy of a β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and biochemical markers in elite rowers: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) is an interesting supplement in sports. However, literature sources present a limited number of studies that verify the efficacy of HMB intake over a longer time period among endurance athletes. For this reason, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of HMB supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and levels of biochemical markers in rowers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen elite male rowers were administered a 12-week HMB supplementation (3×1 gHMB · day(-1)) and placebo administration (PLA) following the model of a randomised, placebo controlled, double-blind crossover study with a 10 days washout period. Over the course of the experiment, aerobic (maximal oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold) and anaerobic (anaerobic power indices) capacity were determined, while analyses were conducted on body composition as well as levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, testosterone, cortisol and the T/C ratio. A normal distribution of variables was tested using the paired 2-tailed t-tests; the Mann-Whitney U-test or the Wilcoxon-signed rank test were applied for non-normally distributed variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following HMB supplementation, [Formula: see text] increased (+2.7 mL · min(-1) · kg(-1)) significantly (p < 0.001) in comparison to its reduction after PLA (-1.0 mL · min(-1) · kg(-1)). In turn, at the ventilatory threshold, a longer time was required to reach this point (+1.2 minHMB vs. -0.2 minPLA, p = 0.012), while threshold load (+0.42 W · kg(-1) HMB vs. -0.06 W · kg(-1) PLA, p = 0.002) and threshold heart rate (+9 bpmHMB vs. +1 bpmPLA, p < 0.001) increased. After HMB supplementation, fat mass decreased (-0.9 kgHMB vs. +0.8 kgPLA, p = 0.03). In relation to the initial values after HMB supplementation, the refusal time to continue in the progressive test was extended (p = 0.04), maximum load (p = 0.04) and anaerobic peak power (p = 0.02) increased. However, in relation to the placebo, no differences were observed in anaerobic adaptation or blood marker levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that HMB intake in endurance training has an advantageous effect on the increase in aerobic capacity and the reduction of fat mass. It may also stimulate an increase in peak anaerobic power, while it seems to have no effect on other indices of anaerobic adaptation and levels of investigated markers in the blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Human Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 31, Poznań, 60-624 Poland ; Polish Wrestling Federation, Żelazna 67/73, Warsaw, 00-871 Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durkalec-Michalski
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Human Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 31, Poznań, 60-624 Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeszka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects*; D014631:Valerates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014631:Valerates; C004961:beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase
keywords: Adaptation; Rowing; Sport supplements; Training support; β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid