Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a metabolite of the essential and branched chain amino acid, leucine. HMB has become popular amongst strength athletes because evidence suggests that it can increase lean body mass. The mechanisms for this are not fully understood, but have been explained to involve a reduction in the catabolic degradation of skeletal muscle following exercise. Studies have investigated the effects of HMB on hormonal levels in male athletes in order to determine if HMB can positively affect testosterone and other anabolic hormones. For example, in one study, researchers administered HMB to male wrestlers and measured their hormone levels. The results of the study showed that HMB was not able to increase the testosterone response to exercise when compared to a control group. However, HMB supplementation was significantly able to increase resting testosterone levels and favourably alter the resting testosterone to cortisol ratio, suggesting positive effects on testosterone.
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