LB104 - BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE (HMB) INTERVENTIONS IMPROVED MUSCLE MASS AND STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ADULTS AGED 55+: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS
LB104
BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE (HMB) INTERVENTIONS IMPROVED MUSCLE MASS AND STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ADULTS AGED 55+: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS
S. L. Tey1,*, R. An2, Y. Yang3, D. T. T. Huynh1, G. Baggs4, N. E. P. Deutz5, A. J. Cruz-Jentoft6, P. J. Atherton7, X. Wang8, S. T. H. Chew9,10,11, S. L. Pereira4
1Abbott Nutrition Research and Development, Asia-Pacific Center, Singapore, Singapore, 2Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, 3Division of Computational and Data Sciences, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 4Abbott Nutrition Research and Development, Columbus, Ohio, 5Primary Care & Rural Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States, 6Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (IRICYS), Madrid, Spain, 7Centre of Metabolism, Ageing & Physiology (CoMAP), MRC/Versus Arthritis Centre of Excellence for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Nottingham National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom, 8School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States, 9Department of Geriatric Medicine, Changi General Hospital, 10SingHealth Duke-NUS Medicine Academic Clinical Program, 11Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Rationale: There is a paradigm shift in focus from sarcopenia to muscle health optimization along a life course perspective. HMB has an important role due to its ergogenic properties. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of HMB interventions on muscle mass and strength.
Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using nine electronic databases from inception to 9 Sep 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on HMB interventions (alone or combined with other nutrients) in community-dwelling adults aged 55+ were included. Fat-free mass (FFM), lean soft tissue mass (LSTM), handgrip strength (HGS), and leg strength (LS) were analyzed. Our primary analysis compared the effects of HMB interventions with control arms. For the secondary analysis, the resistance training arms of four RCTs were added to the primary analysis. Data are mean [95% CI].
Results: A total of 22 RCTs, consisting of 3479 participants from 14 countries, were identified. The intervention duration had a median of 3 months, ranging from 15 days to 12 months. Primary analysis showed that HMB interventions significantly improved FFM by 0.39 [0.24, 0.55] kg, LSTM 0.52 [0.24, 0.79] kg, HGS 1.47 [0.32, 2.62] kg, and LS 2.62 [0.39, 4.85] Nm (all P ≤ 0.021). Similar results were found in the secondary analysis, with significant increases in FFM 0.27 [0.15, 0.40] kg, LSTM 0.33 [0.12, 0.54] kg, and HGS 1.22 [0.27, 2.17] kg (all P ≤ 0.012), and a tendency for higher LS (1.84 [-0.30, 3.98] Nm; P = 0.092).
Conclusion: HMB interventions with or without resistance training resulted in significant improvements in muscle mass and strength in community-dwelling adults aged 55+. These findings support the use of HMB interventions as a clinical nutritional strategy to enhance muscle health in this population group.
Disclosure of Interest: S. L. Tey Other: SLT is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, R. An: None declared, Y. Yang: None declared, D. Huynh Other: DTTH is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, G. Baggs Other: GB is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, N. Deutz: None declared, A. Cruz-Jentoft Other: A.J. Cruz-Jentoft had received honoraria for lecturing and other teaching activities from Abbott Nutrition, Nestlé Health Sciences, and Nutricia, P. Atherton: None declared, X. Wang: None declared, S. Chew Other: STHC had received grant co-funding, travel grant, and honoraria from Abbott Nutrition, S. Pereira Other: SLP is an employee of Abbott Nutrition