Can I get the same effects of HMB by taking the amino acid leucine?
Probably not. Researchers currently believe 5% of dietary leucine is converted to HMB in the body. To make 3 grams of HMB in your body, you would have to take at least 60 grams of leucine per day, which is not practical and could cause severe stomachaches! What does HMB do? Researchers are not completely certain how HMB works in the body. It appears that this amino acid metabolite supports the body’s ability to minimize protein breakdown subsequent to stress such as intense exercise and it also may work to preserve the integrity of cell membranes. By minimizing protein breakdown, HMB, when combined with a resistance-training program, may cause an increase in muscle mass and strength. The exact mechanism behind HMB’s effectiveness will have to be determined in future research. What kind of research has been performed using HMB? HMB has been extensively studied by doctors and researchers. Many species of animals have been studied while using HMB to examine the safety and effectiveness of
