Resistance training & beta-hydroxy-betamethylbutyrate supplementation on hormones

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, there was an increased interest on the effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on skeletal muscle due to its anti-catabolic effects. Objectives: To investigate the effect of HMB supplementation on body composition, muscular strength and anabolic-catabolic hormones after resistance training. Methods: Twenty amateur male athletes were randomly assigned to supplement and control groups in a double-blind crossover design and participated in four weeks resistance training. Before and after the test period fasting blood samples were obtained to determine anabolic (the growth hormone and testosterone) and catabolic (cortisol) hormones, and fat mass, lean body mass (LBM) and muscular strength were measured. Dependent and independent t-tests were used to analyze data. Results: After the training period, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to fat mass, LBM and anabolic-catabolic hormones. HMB supplementation resulted in a significantly greater strength gain (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Greater increase in strength for HMB group was not accompanied by body composition and basal circulating anabolic-catabolic hormonal changes. It seems that HMB supplementation may have beneficial effects on neurological adaptations of strength gain.