title: Comparison of availability and plasma clearance rates of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate delivery in the free acid and calcium salt forms.
abstract: β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, has long been supplemented as a Ca salt (Ca-HMB) to increase strength and performance gains with exercise and to reduce recovery time. Recently, the free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA) has become commercially available in capsule form (gelcap). The current study was conducted to compare the bioavailability of HMB using the two commercially available capsule forms of HMB-FA and Ca-HMB. We also compared the pharmacokinetics of each form when administered mixed in water. Ten human subjects (five male and five female) were studied in a randomised crossover design. There was no significant sex by treatment interaction for any of the pharmacokinetic parameters measured. HMB-FA administered in capsules was more efficient than Ca-HMB capsule at HMB delivery with a 37 % increase in plasma clearance rate (74·8 (sem 4·0) v. 54·5 (sem 3·2) ml/min, P<0·0001) and a 76 % increase in peak plasma HMB concentration (270·2 (sem 17·8) v. 153·9 (sem 17·9) μmol/l, P<0·006), which was reached in one-third the time (P<0·009). When HMB-FA and Ca-HMB were administered in water, the differences still favoured HMB-FA, albeit to a lesser degree. Plasma HMB with HMB-FA administered in water was greater during the early phase of absorption (up to 45 min postadministration, P<0·05); this resulted in increased AUC during the first 60 min after administration, when compared with Ca-HMB mixed in water (P<0·03). In conclusion, HMB-FA in capsule form improves clearance rate and availability of HMB compared with Ca-HMB in capsule form.
authors.affiliation: 1Metabolic Technologies Inc.,Iowa State University Research Park,Ames,IA 50010,USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Kinesiology,Iowa State University,Ames,IA 50010,USA.
authors.forename: Rick L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Kinesiology,Iowa State University,Ames,IA 50010,USA.
authors.forename: Hector F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Angus
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Kinesiology,Iowa State University,Ames,IA 50010,USA.
authors.forename: Paul Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.affiliation: 1Metabolic Technologies Inc.,Iowa State University Research Park,Ames,IA 50010,USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rathmacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D014631:Valerates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014631:Valerates; C004961:beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Ca-HMB calcium salt of HMB; Calcium salt of hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate; Capsules; Clearance; Free acid form of hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate; Gelcaps; HMB β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate; HMB-FA free acid form of HMB; β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate