Background:

Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate is a natural metabolite formed from the breakdown of leucine (a branched-chain amino acid), and its popularity as a supplement has been increasing in recent years. Several studies have focused on addressing its effects on both athletic performance and untrained individuals.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate on muscle hypertrophy from three supplementation approaches: young adults, older adults, and combined supplementation.

Materials and Methods:

This review was conducted on databases such as PubMed, Springer Link, and Science Direct to summarize and identify the possible effects of this supplementation from 2012 to 2020.

Results:

Overall, the search yielded a total of 50 articles, of which 31 were developed in the young adult line, 10 in the older adult line, and 9 in the combined supplementation line. The young adult line had the most evidence, with the main findings highlighted around the research objective.

Conclusions:

Due to the limited number of studies published on this specific aspect (hypertrophy), concluding the exact effects of supplementing beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate is controversial, as there is still ongoing debate regarding its effects or lack of evidence. Clarification of the results should be approached with caution. Among the effects studied, body composition, strength, and muscle damage were found most abundantly, followed by mass preservation, toxicity, hormonal status, and mitochondrial biogenesis.

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