Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Creatine and HMB as strength enhancers

Researchers at Iowa State University analyzed studies of 250 different supplements to identify which of them show the best evidence of being able to enhance muscle size and strength. The winners were creatine and HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate).

As is so often the case in medical research, different studies of the same phenomenon can arrive at opposite conclusions. Another recent study of the use of creatine plus HMB by rugby players concluded that the combination had no effect on “Aerobic and anaerobic capacity”.

How can such contradictory results be explained? One likely possibility is that the substances really can provide the benefits shown in the positive studies, but that the conditions used in the negative studies counteracted these benefits. For example, in the negative study of creatine plus HMB, the rugby players may have been using other substances that interfered with the bioavailabilily or half-life of the study substances. Or perhaps the positive studies and negative studies were measuring variables that were too different for meaningful comparison.

Link to the news report:

SUPPLEMENTS TO ENHANCE STRENGTH TRAINING EFFECTS

Link to the positive study:

Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis.

Link to the negative study:

Effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate and creatine monohydrate supplementation on the aerobic and anaerobic capacity of highly trained athletes.