HMB

[CCS]

HMB is a metabolite of luecine, and is basically a 3-5 carbon skeleton of luecine with the amines ripped off.

Studies (motivated?) say taking 1.5-3 grams before a morning cardio workout will reduce the amount of muscle burned, so you can do more intense cardio and burn fat faster without burning nearly as much muscle. At best, muscle loss is reduced 20-40%.

Also good at preventing muscle wasting in general, like in hospital beds. 300g is $22, and they recommed 3x 2g per day for muscle wasting or 2-3 gram before cardio catabolic protection.
------

Sounds good, but I'm skeptical because the studies leave out critical info.
If you eat 3 grams of sugar before a workout, probably 4 grams of protein will not need to be burned during that workout. Actually, it will probably 2.5g of fat and 1 gram of protein that is not burned. I'm looking for studies that had cardio tests and looked at nitrogen in urine post workout, and actually state how long and what intensity the cardio was done at, and the percent difference in nitrogen, so I can see if the difference is greater than can be explained by calories of the HMB itself. I they just do 10 minutes of LIGHT cardio, especially later in the day, and the amonia levels are very small, then the calories of the 3g of HMB could easily account for a 40% difference.

--------

This stuff looks promissing if it actually suppresses muscle catabolism by other than a caloric means. I just don't want to throw $22 at something useless or increase my morning intensity while thinking I'll be protected.

 

[CCS]

They give this stuff to cows to increase lean gains. Now I know they are serious.

This invention is based on the discovery that nitrogen retention in humans can be dramatically improved by the administration of small amounts of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB). In experiments which lead to the present invention, using normal human subjects nitrogen retention was increased by an average of 18%. This result was unexpected. Heretofore, as far as it is known, there have been no reports of experiments with either humans or animals in which KIC or HMB was administered and effects on nitrogen retention determined. The finding that the administration of one gram of HMB per subject per 24 hours appreciably reduced urinary nitrogen was especially significant since the subjects were well-nourished adults. Prior studies on other means of promoting nitrogen retention have been conducted mostly with subjects under stress conditions who had negative nitrogen balances. A substance that can increase nitrogen retention in humans who are not experiencing a negative nitrogen balance has manifest therapeutic potential.

1g in 24 hours to well nurished adults and 18% increase in nitrogen retension. I'm convinced. But that shows it is good for throwout the day. I'll buy it, I still don't know if it will let me to heavier cardio in the morning.

 

[CCS]

This stuff would be good for my father.

I don't know how much protein would be spared during 140 BPM cardio in the morning, but I think I'd save enough during the rest of the day that I could go ahead and burn fat faster if I want. I'll just take some branch chain amino acids afterwards. Nuff research for me.

 

[CCS]

Now I'm trying to find out if it just inhibits coritol and forces the body to take more blood sugar. That would not make it work for cows, though, unless it made them hungrier so they ate more. I really hope this stuff actually reduces muscle break down without reducing fat metabolism. Just can't find any studies that tested for that. It is rediculous what these researchers pass off as research, almost like they were paid to make it look good.

 

[CCS]

The manufacturer says that HMB causes the muscles to burn more fat during exercise, presumably by them not burning as much protein. No link to a study provided. Just said that there are studies. OK. I'll take the stuff. I'll take a gram before my workout. Or half a gram before and half after. Then I'll take a gram before going to sleep. And a gram before my morning fat burn. Supposedly 1 gram a day is enough, but some sources say 2 grams 3x per day. I'm not that worried though. This stuff should also be good for anyone coming off a steroid cycle.

 

[mulder]

How is the supp working out for you CCS? Where do you get your HMB from? Have any supp suggestions for someone looking to lose a lot of body fat but maintain muscle?

 

[CCS]

It has not arrived yet. You can buy it many places. Just google it. This product could help you. However, I read lots of dramagic stuff about GABA, and when I take it, nothing happens. It is supposed to cause deep sleep and vivid dreams, but I feel the same and my dreams are the same and I don't get any sleepier like everyone says. So these supplements could be BS. I also am taking a designer steroid call Epistane, but I'm not recovering any faster than I would without it, so I'm starting ot think it is a scam.

 

[Renegade]

I remember there being hype over the HMB about 10 years ago. I bought some as a supplement to my weighlifting but it didn't do jack. Now though, the amino it composes - luecine is touted as a critical amino - there's even more buzz over luecine than glutamine now. What gives?

 

[mulder]

What about glutamine and taurin? They seem to be pretty heavily touted as well.

 

[CCS]

I think there is a lot of hype out there. We need enough protein, and in the right ratios. maybe we need some amino acids more at different times of the day, though. Whey is very low in glutamine and arginine, and these two are so cheap, and I have 100 grams of each, so I'll use them for now.

I think if you eat a lot of protein, your liver will just turn what it does not need into sugar. But even if you give your body what it needs, it can still make bad stuff if you don't give it the right ratio.

I'm just bothered that so many places say, "get his amino acid", and every one of them has some benifit. Well our food has amino acids in it, so until a study shows that a certain ratio is good at a certain dose, I would not bother supplementing, unless you are eating beans that are low in methionine and lysine, or whey which is low in glutamine and arginine.

 

[CCS]

Is HMB supposed to smell like burnt rubber? This stuff must be real. No way they'd make a fake that tastes and smells this bad.