Oral Supplementation with Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate, Arginine, and Glutamine Improves Lean Body Mass in Healthy Older Adults

ABSTRACT

Oral intake of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), arginine, and glutamine may ameliorate muscle loss by stimulating protein synthesis and decreasing protein degradation while simultaneously decreasing inflammation. Previous studies provide evidence for improvement in body composition with dietary supplementation of these ingredients among patients with muscle-wasting diseases. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of this amino acid mixture on lean body mass, muscle volume, and physical function among healthy older adults.

Thirty-one community-dwelling men and women, aged 65–89 years, were randomized to either two oral doses of the amino acid supplement (totaling 3 g HMB, 14 g arginine, 14 g glutamine) or placebo daily for six months. At baseline and month six, lean body mass was measured by air displacement plethysmography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and four-compartment model. Muscle volume of quadriceps was quantified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and participants performed a battery of tests to assess physical function. As compared to the placebo group, the treatment group exhibited improvement in a timed stair climb (p =.016) as well as significant increases in lean body mass by all methods of assessment (p <.05). Regional analysis by DXA revealed increased arm lean mass in the supplement group only (p =.035). However, no change was observed in MRI-derived quadriceps volume. Dietary supplementation with HMB, arginine, and glutamine improved total body lean mass among a small sample of healthy older adults. Further research is indicated to elucidate mechanisms of action and to determine whether supplementation may benefit frail elders.

Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no. NCT01057082.

KEYWORDS:

• arginine
• beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate
• elderly
• glutamine
• lean body mass

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Maryellen Williams and Cindy Zeng for laboratory analyses, Alexandra Vyazovkina for mass spectrometry analysis, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Center for Clinical and Translational Science for statistical consultation.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

About the authors

Amy C. Ellis is a Registered Dietitian and Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa. Her research interests include body composition changes with aging and neuromuscular disease.

Gary R. Hunter is a professor and senior scientist at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He is nationally recognized for research in the areas of exercise training, energy expenditure, and body composition.

Amy M. Goss is a Registered Dietitian and Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Her research interests include body fat distribution and insulin action.

Barbara A. Gower is a professor and senior scientist at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Dr. Gower's research expertise encompasses body fat distribution and risk for chronic disease as well as inter-relationships between diet and the endocrine system.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (F31 AT005384-01). Core laboratory support and facilities were provided by the UAB Diabetes Research Center Human Physiology Core (P30DK079626-06). Abbott Nutrition provided Juven and placebo in coded packets.