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HMB supplementation: clinical and athletic performance-related effects and mechanisms of action

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Abstract

Amino acids such as leucine and its metabolite α-ketoisocaproate (KIC), are returning to be the focus of studies, mainly because of their anti-catabolic properties, through inhibition of muscle proteolysis and enhancement of protein synthesis. It is clear that these effects may counteract catabolic conditions, as well as enhance skeletal muscle mass and strength in athletes. Moreover, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has been shown to produce an important effect in reducing muscle damage induced by mechanical stimuli of skeletal muscle. This review aims to describe the general scientific evidence of KIC and HMB supplementation clinical relevance, as well as their effects (e.g., increases in skeletal muscle mass and/or strength), associated with resistance training or other sports. Moreover, the possible mechanisms of cell signaling regulation leading to increases and/or sparing (during catabolic conditions) of skeletal muscle mass are discussed in detail based on the recent literature.

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Acknowledgments

Brazilian Funding Agency (FAPESP—Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo); Grant Number: 08/51090-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, Physical Education and Sports School, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Nelo Eidy Zanchi, Vitor Felitti & Antonio Herbert Lancha Jr.

  2. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Frederico Gerlinger-Romero, Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira & Mário Alves de Siqueira Filho

  3. Division of Nutrition Physiology, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fabio Santos Lira

  4. Cancer Metabolism Research Group, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Nelo Eidy Zanchi & Marília Seelaender

  5. Department of Sports, Center of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória/ES, Brazil

    Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira

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  1. Nelo Eidy Zanchi
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  2. Frederico Gerlinger-Romero
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Correspondence to Nelo Eidy Zanchi.

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Zanchi, N.E., Gerlinger-Romero, F., Guimarães-Ferreira, L. et al. HMB supplementation: clinical and athletic performance-related effects and mechanisms of action. Amino Acids 40, 1015–1025 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-010-0678-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-010-0678-0

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