Whatever stage of your fitness journey you are on, the use of supplements is a way to boost your results and can help with the recovery process after a workout. This is why creatine and HMB supplements have become popular with many people.
Part of the process involves using these to prevent muscle protein breakdown and can help improve the strength of muscles in older adults. It is also used with bodybuilders, competitive fighters, and even strength athletes.
But you might not fit into these categories and wonder if the supplement is worth the investment. Below you can find an outline of the supplement and the best ones you can get on the market today.
The 8 Best HMB Supplements
You’ll find that the supplement comes in powder or capsule form, and some can be more versatile to certain users than others, which is why we have provided the broadest range of supplements to meet each need, which can be found below.
Now Sports Nutrition HMB Powder
This supplement has been listed as a training essential, so you have some confidence that this product has been clinically researched and every aspect of the manufacturing process has been examined, including their testing and laboratory methods.
You also have a supplement that provides potency, stability, and product formulation. This means it can benefit those recovering after an intense workout, so you can be sure of the results you get as you build an exercise regime.
Pros
- The powder form makes it more palatable than other types as it can be used with water or in a beverage of your choice, making it easier to consume.
- Being on the smaller dosage side makes this ideal for those new to using HMB products and who want to avoid taking the risk of going for a higher amount that may not be useful to them.
Cons
- Like many supplements in this form, the powder has a sharp and bitter taste, so you might have to get creative in what drinks you combine it with.
Blonyx HMB And Creatine
This supplement uses a higher purity of raw HMB and creatine monohydrate, so more attention is paid to the development and manufacturing process. The finished product is tested in labs to ensure the highest quality before it reaches the market.
You also have no additives, and even though this can reduce its shelf life, it is made to be the body’s first fuel source during intense workouts, so you can work out harder and be sure that you don’t experience long periods of soreness afterwards.
Pros
- You have a one-month supply, which means you can see results from using it without having to invest more as long as you don’t exceed the recommended daily dosage.
- This supplement is mixed with creatine, which can help boost your metabolism and is ideal for those who are cutting and want to get rid of fat.
Cons
- While this is good, using creatine in this way after your exercise phase is over could lead to weight gain, so you might have to take it easy with this in the start and get your body used to the changes.
- With no additives or sweeteners does mean the taste leans towards the bad side, so mixing it well will overcome this problem if you are particular about flavor.
MRM HMB Capsules
Suppose you’re looking for consistent results during resistance or high-intensity workouts. In that case, these supplements can give you the endurance to gain strength over a shorter period, which applies to moments between sets and the time between workouts.
What makes these even better is that they are made from non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, and vegan ingredients, which have been certified through third-party evaluation. These are developed in clinical experimental data collection and apply these findings.
Pros
- With 60 capsules, you have enough to see you through the more intense periods of your workout, so if you’re new to training, it might be worth trying them.
- The added L-Leucine means you have a better recovery process and may even enhance this to make aches and soreness less of an issue.
Cons
- The capsules have been said to be quite large, so it may be difficult for some to consume them, so you may want to mix them with another protein source.
- There are other supplements out there that can offer you more servings, so if you are using these in the long term, you may find yourself gravitating towards them.
Nutricost HMB Capsules
With clean ingredients and generous servings, you have what seems to be a comprehensive HMB product, so even if you are on a weight loss schedule, you can do so without losing any muscle protein during the process.
With these, your health feels more balanced and has no annoying side effects such as bloating or constipation. If you get the right balance of exercise and consumption, you can trim a few pounds.
Pros
- With the right amount of training, these supplements can be used by pretty much anyone, from bodybuilders to older people.
- They are also gluten-free and non-GMO, which can be of massive benefit to those who have specific intolerances.
Cons
- These capsules contain magnesium stearate, so those on diuretics, heart medications, or antibiotics might experience some gut-related issues and even nausea when taken in larger doses.
- For the best results, some have noted that you may need to take a higher dosage than what is instructed on the label, which might not be beneficial to some.
Bulk Supplements HMB Powder
This powder is not just a simple everyday supplement. Still, during the process, you’ll find that it can help maintain muscle mass and uses a naturally occurring compound that supports the muscles at whatever stage as it can help to balance muscle metabolism.
These supplements are tested during each stage of the manufacturing process, so you get a consistent product made purely for those with active lifestyles or who are looking to promote stages of their workouts for optimal results.
Pros
- You can select from five variations, so you have more choices beyond the 250g bag, so your supplement can go even further.
- If you are looking for a definition in your body and are on a diet where you want to avoid losing muscle mass, this supplement is very accommodating.
Cons
- After some use, you might find that clumps start to appear in the bag, making it harder to measure out and dissolve in your beverage of choice.
- If you are an advanced athlete or don’t train heavily, it might not be as helpful when looking at recovery, as you may not get the best results.
Double Wood HMB Supplement
When working out on a calorific deficit, you want something to enhance your performance, as this supplement can work to boost output, which is an issue that some people may find as they are starting out on their fitness journey.
They are also made, so the capsules are easy to swallow, and you should get a good dosage out of them, so you’ll be able to fit in more servings to stretch your supplements further. This balance is ideal for someone who is just getting started.
Pros
- If you have an irregular exercise regime, you can hold muscle mass well during inactivity, so you have more flexibility in your workout routine.
- These have a blending that makes them taste more palatable than other capsules of this type, which can be useful to those struggling to keep capsules down.
Cons
- Some users might experience nausea or an upset stomach, so if you get these symptoms, they may become harder to use in the long term as you might need to make adjustments.
- The potency of the HMB in this supplement means you might get a surplus of energy which might disrupt your post-workout routine, so you may have to start with a lower dosage.
Micro Ingredients Pure HMB Powder
This powder has a higher concentration, so you can absorb it quicker while being easy on the stomach. It goes beyond this as the product has no fillers, gluten, soy, tree nuts, or gluten, so a broader range of people can consume it.
It has flexibility as well, so you can use it with or between meals, and it can be incorporated into a broader range of drinks, and this can make the liquid more dense and satisfying as you go to or come from a workout.
Pros
- Even older users who are only semi-active can still achieve a significant change in boosting performance and strength.
- If you have issues like back pain, this supplement has been noted as alleviating any pain or discomfort, which can make workouts much harder.
Cons
- This supplement is more for those doing intense workouts, so it might be better for those trying to maintain the strength that is already present in the body.
AgelessLX HMB Supplement
This supplement is made for women who are ideally over 40 and going into the stages of menopause as the body goes through many changes. One of these can be weight gain, so to prevent this and other issues, these capsules might be worth a look.
Not only can it help you attain a leaner body, but it can also help you with rebuilding and strengthening the cellular structure in the body and the presence of biotin and horsetail, which can promote the strength of your hair and nails.
Pros
- The main benefit here is that you can become stronger and fight fatigue, and while it benefits your skin, it doesn’t cause any unexpected breakouts.
- Given that calcium is recommended for those who go through menopause, it is contained in this supplement as it is sent to the areas of your body that need it.
Cons
- If you’re looking to gain a significant amount of muscle, you might be a bit disappointed in the results, as its primary use here is to give definition to the muscles and give them more strength than usual.
Buyer’s Guide
You may still be confused about whether these supplements are helpful to you, so before making an impulsive decision, it may be worth looking at aspects that may affect the outcome of using HMB, as you want to be able to make an informed decision before purchasing it.
Expectations
This sounds vague, but you might not expect results as soon as you hope, so unless you are suffering from muscle degeneration or are doing heavy physical workouts with a resting period, you might not notice any difference at all.
However, it is said that noticeable changes happen around 2-4 weeks. Instead, you may notice that you can adapt your exercise regimes better and may even make them easier as you gain strength, which is an ideal sign to look out for.
Your Diet
The optimal way to use this supplement is before you take part in your workout on an empty stomach, as this will encourage the body to use stored fat as exercise energy fuel. The activity should be high-intensity to work with your muscle protein for the best results.
For this, you want to check that there aren’t any additives or synthetics like sweeteners, as these may be counterproductive as they may cause a metabolic disturbance, which can go against the results you’re looking for, as this could even make workouts more challenging.
Do You Even Need Them?
There is some ambiguity over who these supplements are for, and some are geared toward older people. Beginners in weight training might see the most effects as they would be expected to gain more muscle and strength quickly.
This may make less sense for an advanced user as they may see less muscle protein breakdown, but this may be less beneficial or play a smaller role the longer you train for, but you might see some benefit in regards to slight body recomposition.
This can also depend on the type of workout you do, as activities such as running, gymnastics, swimming, and some forms of cardio might not get you the results you are looking for, so bear this in mind.
Do You Need Other Supplements?
As you can stack HMB with other products, including glutamine, creatine, whey protein, and carbs, you can work your muscles harder while minimizing your recovery time. Still, this may be a bit overkill for some people.
That’s because creatine is a non-essential amino acid, so your body naturally creates it, and you don’t need to find other sources. The same goes for whey powder; you can get other protein sources from eggs, chicken, fish, beans, and whole grains.
This will depend entirely on how much you work out and the intensity you are going for, and carbs can play a role in the recovery process by preventing muscle loss.
Those on keto diets, though, have shown little difference in muscle growth between keto and a conventional diet plan. This means it might take some experimentation on your part to find out which supplements and food groups are suited to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A HMB Supplement?
HMB is an active metabolite of the amino acid leucine, as this amino acid is one of the body’s primary dietary sources so the supplement can act as an anticatabolic in regard to muscle tissue. This prevents any breakdown of muscle protein and reduces the loss of fat-free mass.
This breakdown is prevented by inhibiting the activity of the body’s ubiquitin-proteasome system and caspases, which are two systems that can break down these proteins if the body is under a catabolic state such as ageing, disease, fasting, and immobilization.
This may explain why the benefits are more prevalent in those vulnerable to atrophy, which can be due to natural ageing, being physically inactive, and even consuming an unhealthy diet.
What Form Is Best For HMB?
This can be down to personal preference as even though the powder form is said to act and be absorbed quicker, there is little evidence out there to define one that has more effects over the other, so you may find one form easier to consume than the other.
The powder may give you some gastronomical problems if you’ve experienced this discomfort in the past through other powders, so a capsule might relieve these symptoms and reduce that bloated feeling you may get with certain supplements.
If you’re a beginner, though, you may prefer powder as it’s easier to split dosages where you can use them in more ways, so you can still enjoy drinks without having the bland taste that many of these powders have.
