Supplements

Adding HMB to EPA/DHA supplementation for 10 weeks increases postabsorptive net protein breakdown in COPD patients

In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 46 patients with COPD received daily EPA/DHA, EPA/DHA plus HMB, or placebo for 10 weeks. The HMB plus EPA/DHA group showed a significant increase in postabsorptive net protein breakdown (p=0.028), while EPA/DHA alone did not, suggesting enhanced protein turnover cycling associated with lean soft tissue gain.

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026โ€ข1 RCTsโ€ข๐Ÿ“– Read as article โ†’

Evidence Score

Evidence Score42/100
Human RCTโ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Meta-analysisโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Mechanismโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Safetyโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Functional and metabolic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and the role of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate addition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized clinical trial.

observational

Engelen MPKJ, Simbo SY, Ruebush LE, Thaden JJ, Ten Have GAM, Harrykissoon RI, Zachria AJ, Calder PC, Pereira SL, Deutz NEP ยท Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (2024)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 10 weeks
Intervention: Daily supplementation with 2.0 g EPA/DHA plus 3.0 g Ca-HMB for 10 weeks
Outcome: Postabsorptive net protein breakdown (netPB), whole body production of amino acids, lean soft tissue, fat mass, muscle function, cognitive health, functional performance, quality of life, inflammatory cytokines
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Patients with moderate to very severe COPD (GOLD stages II-IV, n=46)

Result:

PubMed: 39181037DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.08.004

Mechanism Graph

HMB plus EPA/DHA supplementation increases whole body production of glutamine, taurine, and tyrosine
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Reduces proinflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-17, IL-6, IL-12P40, TNF-ฮฒ)
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Enhances protein turnover cycling
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Result: Increased net protein breakdown and lean soft tissue gain

Limitations

  • โš Small sample size (n=46) may limit generalizability
  • โš Whether HMB alone or synergistic with EPA/DHA causes fat loss remains unclear

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary finding of this study?โ–ผ

Adding HMB to EPA/DHA supplementation for 10 weeks increases net protein breakdown in COPD patients, indicating enhanced protein turnover, while EPA/DHA alone does not.

How does HMB plus EPA/DHA affect body composition?โ–ผ

Both EPA/DHA and HMB plus EPA/DHA increased lean soft tissue, but only HMB plus EPA/DHA reduced whole body and extremity fat mass.

What is the recommended dose of EPA/DHA and HMB?โ–ผ

The study used 2.0 g of EPA/DHA and 3.0 g of Ca-HMB daily for 10 weeks.

Are there any anti-inflammatory effects observed?โ–ผ

Yes, the HMB plus EPA/DHA group showed reductions in several proinflammatory cytokines including IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IL-12P40, and TNF-ฮฒ.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Engelen MPKJ, Simbo SY, Ruebush LE, Thaden JJ, Ten Have GAM, Harrykissoon RI, Zachria AJ, Calder PC, Pereira SL, Deutz NEP. "Functional and metabolic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and the role of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate addition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized clinical trial.." Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 2024. PMID: 39181037 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.08.004
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.