Supplements

HMB added to EPA/DHA supplementation increases postabsorptive net protein breakdown in COPD patients

In a 10-week RCT, COPD patients receiving HMB + EPA/DHA showed a significant increase in postabsorptive net protein breakdown (p=0.028), while EPA/DHA alone did not. Both interventions increased lean soft tissue, but only HMB + EPA/DHA reduced whole body and extremity fat mass.

Last updated: Aug 26, 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 + EPA/DHA supplementation increases postabsorptive net protein breakdown
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This may indicate enhanced protein turnover cycling
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Increased protein turnover is associated with increased lean soft tissue
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Result: Improved muscle health and reduced fat mass in COPD patients

Limitations

  • โš Small sample size (n=46) limits generalizability
  • โš Whether HMB alone or synergistic with EPA/DHA causes fat loss remains unclear
  • โš No significant improvements in muscle function, brain health, or quality of life were observed

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Adding HMB to EPA/DHA supplementation for 10 weeks increased net protein breakdown and reduced fat mass in COPD patients, while EPA/DHA alone increased lean soft tissue but not fat loss.

How does HMB affect protein metabolism in COPD?โ–ผ

HMB combined with EPA/DHA increased postabsorptive net protein breakdown, suggesting enhanced protein turnover cycling that may support muscle remodeling.

Did EPA/DHA alone improve muscle function in COPD patients?โ–ผ

No, EPA/DHA supplementation increased lean soft tissue but did not improve muscle function, brain health, or quality of life in this study.

What were the anti-inflammatory effects of HMB + EPA/DHA?โ–ผ

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

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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.