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Metabolic and functional effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation in skeletal muscle

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Abstract

Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a metabolite derived from leucine. The anti-catabolic effect of HMB is well documented but its effect upon skeletal muscle strength and fatigue is still uncertain. In the present study, male Wistar rats were supplemented with HMB (320 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks. Placebo group received saline solution only. Muscle strength (twitch and tetanic force) and resistance to acute muscle fatigue of the gastrocnemius muscle were evaluated by direct electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve. The content of ATP and glycogen in red and white portions of gastrocnemius muscle were also evaluated. The effect of HMB on citrate synthase (CS) activity was also investigated. Muscle tetanic force was increased by HMB supplementation. No change was observed in time to peak of contraction and relaxation time. Resistance to acute muscle fatigue during intense contractile activity was also improved after HMB supplementation. Glycogen content was increased in both white (by fivefold) and red (by fourfold) portions of gastrocnemius muscle. HMB supplementation also increased the ATP content in red (by twofold) and white (1.2-fold) portions of gastrocnemius muscle. CS activity was increased by twofold in red portion of gastrocnemius muscle. These results support the proposition that HMB supplementation have marked change in oxidative metabolism improving muscle strength generation and performance during intense contractions.

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Acknowledgments

C.H.J Pinheiro was scholar fellowship of São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP [2008/54693-9]. Gerlinger-Romero F, Guimarães-Ferreira L, Nachbar RT and Vitzel KF were scholar fellowship of CAPES.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, room 105, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, Prédio Biomédicas I, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP:05508-900, Brazil

    Carlos Hermano da Justa Pinheiro, Frederico Gerlinger-Romero, Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira, Alcione Lescano de Souza-Jr, Kaio Fernando Vitzel, Renato Tadeu Nachbar, Maria Tereza Nunes & Rui Curi

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  1. Carlos Hermano da Justa Pinheiro
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  2. Frederico Gerlinger-Romero
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  3. Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira
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  4. Alcione Lescano de Souza-Jr
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  5. Kaio Fernando Vitzel
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  6. Renato Tadeu Nachbar
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  7. Maria Tereza Nunes
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  8. Rui Curi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Hermano da Justa Pinheiro.

Additional information

Communicated by Susan Ward.

C. H. J. Pinheiro and F. Gerlinger-Romero contributed equally to this work.

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Pinheiro, C.H.J., Gerlinger-Romero, F., Guimarães-Ferreira, L. et al. Metabolic and functional effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation in skeletal muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 2531–2537 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2224-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2224-5

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