Does a supplement called HMB make muscles grow?
The Influence of Acute Beta-Hydroxy Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Ingestion on the Human Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
HMB upregulated TNFα signaling genes without increasing muscle protein breakdown.
TNFα is classically seen as a catabolic (muscle-wasting) cytokine; finding it activated while breakdown stayed flat contradicts decades of assumed biology.
Practical Takeaways
Take 3.42g of HMB 2–3 hours before or after a meal to potentially amplify your muscle’s anabolic response.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
HMB upregulated TNFα signaling genes without increasing muscle protein breakdown.
TNFα is classically seen as a catabolic (muscle-wasting) cytokine; finding it activated while breakdown stayed flat contradicts decades of assumed biology.
Practical Takeaways
Take 3.42g of HMB 2–3 hours before or after a meal to potentially amplify your muscle’s anabolic response.
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2026
Authors
D. Wilkinson, Iain J Gallagher, H. Crossland, Suzette L. Pereira, R. Rueda, B. Phillips, Kenneth Smith, C. Deane, P. Atherton
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking HMB supplements does not significantly increase muscle growth in people who already eat enough protein, but might slightly affect muscle growth when calorie intake is very low or training intensity is extremely high.
Taking a 3.42-gram dose of HMB orally changes the activity of specific genes in skeletal muscle of healthy young men, increasing those related to nutrient transport and cellular signaling while decreasing those involved in circadian regulation, indicating a shift in molecular activity that may support muscle growth and metabolic adjustment.
Taking HMB shortly before or after exercise is linked to changes in the activity of certain genes in muscle tissue that help regulate the body's daily biological rhythms.
Taking HMB shortly before exercise is linked to higher levels of two specific proteins in muscle tissue that help bring in amino acids and trigger muscle growth pathways.
Taking HMB shortly before or after exercise is linked to changes in the activity of certain genes in muscle tissue that are involved in building proteins and reducing protein breakdown.