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Journal of the American College of Nutrition

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The Addition of Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate and

Isomaltulose to Whey Protein Improves Recovery from
Highly Demanding Resistance Exercise
a

William J. Kraemer PhD FACN , David R. Hooper MA , Tunde K. Szivak MA , Brian R. Kupchak
b

PhD , Courtenay Dunn-Lewis PhD , Brett A. Comstock PhD , Shawn D. Flanagan MA MHA ,
b

David P. Looney MS , Adam J. Sterczala MS , William H. DuPont MS , J. Luke Pryor MS , Hiub

Ying Luk MS , Jesse Maladoungdock MS , Danielle McDermott MS , Jeff S. Volek PhD RD &
a

Carl M. Maresh PhD

a

Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

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Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Storrs, Connecticut

Published online: 11 Mar 2015.

To cite this article: William J. Kraemer PhD FACN, David R. Hooper MA, Tunde K. Szivak MA, Brian R. Kupchak PhD,
Courtenay Dunn-Lewis PhD, Brett A. Comstock PhD, Shawn D. Flanagan MA MHA, David P. Looney MS, Adam J. Sterczala
MS, William H. DuPont MS, J. Luke Pryor MS, Hiu-Ying Luk MS, Jesse Maladoungdock MS, Danielle McDermott MS, Jeff S.
Volek PhD RD & Carl M. Maresh PhD (2015): The Addition of Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate and Isomaltulose to Whey
Protein Improves Recovery from Highly Demanding Resistance Exercise, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, DOI:
10.1080/07315724.2014.938790
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2014.938790

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Original Research

The Addition of Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate

and Isomaltulose to Whey Protein Improves
Recovery from Highly Demanding Resistance
Exercise

Downloaded by [PHB Library] at 06:39 13 March 2015

William J. Kraemer, PhD, David R. Hooper, MA, Tunde K. Szivak, MA, Brian R. Kupchak, PhD,
Courtenay Dunn-Lewis, PhD, Brett A. Comstock, PhD, Shawn D. Flanagan, MA, MHA, David P. Looney, MS,
Adam J. Sterczala, MS, William H. DuPont, MS, J. Luke Pryor, MS, Hiu-Ying Luk, MS, Jesse Maladoungdock, MS,
Danielle McDermott, MS, Jeff S. Volek, PhD, RD, Carl M. Maresh, PhD
Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (W.J.K, D.R.H., T.K.S., S.D.F., W.H.D., J.S.V., C.M.M.);
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (B.R.K., C.D.-L.,
B.A.C., D.P.L., A.J.S., J.L.P., H.-Y.L., J.M., D.M.)
Key words: resistance training, HMB, whey protein, carbohydrate, muscle damage, exercise
Objective: This study evaluated whether a combination of whey protein (WP), calcium beta-hydroxy-betamethylbutyrate (HMB), and carbohydrate exert additive effects on recovery from highly demanding resistance
exercise.
Methods: Thirteen resistance-trained men (age: 22.6 3.9 years; height: 175.3 12.2 cm; weight:
86.2 9.8 kg) completed a double-blinded, counterbalanced, within-group study. Subjects ingested EAS
Recovery Protein (RP; EAS Sports Nutrition/Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH) or WP twice daily for
2 weeks prior to, during, and for 2 days following 3 consecutive days of intense resistance exercise. The
workout sequence included heavy resistance exercise (day 1) and metabolic resistance exercise (days 2 and 3).
The subjects performed no physical activity during day 4 (C24 hours) and day 5 (C48 hours), where recovery
testing was performed. Before, during, and following the 3 workouts, treatment outcomes were evaluated using
blood-based muscle damage markers and hormones, perceptual measures of muscle soreness, and
countermovement jump performance.
Results: Creatine kinase was lower for the RP treatment on day 2 (RP: 166.9 56.4 vs WP: 307.1
125.2 IU L1, p  0.05), day 4 (RP: 232.5 67.4 vs WP: 432.6 223.3 IU L1, p  0.05), and day 5 (RP:
176.1 38.7 vs 264.5 120.9 IU L1, p  0.05). Interleukin-6 was lower for the RP treatment on day 4
(RP: 1.2 0.2 vs WP: 1.6 0.6 pg ml1, p  0.05) and day 5 (RP: 1.1 0.2 vs WP: 1.6 0.4 pg ml1, p
 0.05). Muscle soreness was lower for RP treatment on day 4 (RP: 2.0 0.7 vs WP: 2.8 1.1 cm, p  0.05).
Vertical jump power was higher for the RP treatment on day 4 (RP: 5983.2 624 vs WP 5303.9 641.7 W, p
 0.05) and day 5 (RP: 5792.5 595.4 vs WP: 5200.4 501 W, p  0.05).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that during times of intense conditioning, the recovery benefits of WP are
enhanced with the addition of HMB and a slow-release carbohydrate. We observed reductions in markers of
muscle damage and improved athletic performance.

INTRODUCTION

support [1,2]. Further, athletes may fail to balance training and

recovery as they strive for maximal performance [3]. When
excessive stress is placed on the bodys recovery process, which
can no longer compensate, reductions in strength, overtraining
syndrome [3], and possibly even injury (such as rhabdomyolysis) may occur. Various dietary supplements have been

In order to maximize adaptations to resistance exercise, progressive increases in training loads and frequency are typically
recommended, along with the use of periodization [1]. Rigorous
conditioning sequences may require additional nutritional

Address correspondence to: William J. Kraemer, PhD, FACN, Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, A054 PAES Bldg, 305 West 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210. E-mail: kraemer.44@osu.edu
Abbreviations: WP D whey protein, RP D recovery protein, HMB D beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate

Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 0, No. 0, 19 (2015) American College of Nutrition
Published by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
1

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Additive Effects of HMB and Isomaltulose

developed to support the recovery process by reducing muscle
damage and the loss of physical performance. Protein supplementation is a prominent example: though resistance training
has been shown to increase protein synthesis [4], net protein balance may remain negative without the use of a protein supplement afteracute resistance exercise [5].
Different types of protein have been studied, including proteins from different sources (e.g., whey and soy based). In a
recent study, we directly compared 2 sources of protein and
demonstrated that despite isocaloric and isonitrogenous conditions, lean body mass gains were greater in subjects who supplemented with whey [6]. The mechanism for this preferential
response to whey protein may reflect increased branched-chain
amino acid content, and leucine in particular, because these
amino acids activate key protein synthesis enzymes after physical exercise [7]. This theory was echoed in a recent review,
where it was suggested that leucine may be responsible for the
efficacy of protein supplements, as opposed to brain chain amino
acids (BCAAs) generally [8]. A possible explanation for the
superiority of leucine over other amino acids lies in its metabolite, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), produced from
the reversible transamination of leucine to a-ketoisocaproate
(KIC) [9], followed by production of HMB in the cytosol. KIC
can also be metabolized in the mitochondria [10], yet both pathways lead to the production of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme
A (HMG-CoA), a precursor for cholesterol synthesis.
The current model for HMB in recovery is that damaged
muscle cells are unable to produce enough HMG-CoA (and
therefore cholesterol) to function properly [10]. As a result,
HMB supplementation may stabilize cellular membranes,
allowing for maximal cell growth [11]. The ability of HMB to
stabilize membranes is supported by its ability to reduce circulating creatine kinase (CK), an intracellular enzyme thought to
increase with cell membrane permeability as a result of skeletal
muscle damage [12]. The ability of HMB to aid the recovery
process following resistance training could thus play an important role, because it has been suggested that CK should return
to normal in order to avoid overtraining or muscular pathology
[13]. Accordingly, with 3 weekly days of resistance training,
Nissen et al. [14] demonstrated significantly lower plasma CK
in subjects who consumed HMB compared to a control group.
These results were duplicated in more recent work, which
showed that HMB supplementation is accompanied by significant reductions in CK with one session or 12 weeks of resistance training [15,16]. Additional proposed mechanisms for
the role of HMB in strength improvement are focused on
HMBs ability to improve net protein balance by altering anabolic, catabolic, and inflammatory factors [10]. Until recently,
studies in this area had predominantly utilized cell cultures or
animal models. However, Wilkinson et al. [17] confirmed elevated muscle protein synthesis as well as attenuated muscle
protein breakdown with HMB and leucine supplementation in
vivo. Furthermore, it was recently demonstrated that HMB

could reduce circulating tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and

monocyte TNF-a receptor 1 expression after intense exercise,
indicating that HMB may positively alter the immune response
to exercise [18].
In addition to whey protein (WP) and HMB, carbohydrate
supplementation also appears to have beneficial effects on recovery, which may stem from actions on circulating cytokines,
including interleukin-6 (IL-6). These messenger molecules are
released from muscle and various lymphocytes and are associated with altered metabolic activity, which may in turn promote
inflammatory immune activity [19]. For example, elevations in
IL-6 are associated with glycogen depletion [20], and carbohydrate supplementation can attenuate this response following
long-distance running [21]. Though glycogen depletion is typically associated with endurance activities, resistance training can
also challenge glycolysis, especially when short rest intervals
are used. To that end, elevations in IL-6 have been observed
from immediately post to upwards of an hour after resistance
exercise [22], as well as up to 72 hours later [23]. Such prolonged increases in IL-6 would be of concern to individuals
engaging in extreme conditioning protocols, where high training
frequencies are also typically employed (56 times per week).
In such cases, resistance training with high glycolytic demands
performed at high frequencies could result in chronically elevated resting IL-6 concentrations, which may have detrimental
effects on metabolism and inflammation [24]. As a result, recovery from repeated resistance training workouts, especially those
that demand more glycolytic metabolism, might be aided by
supplementation with carbohydrates and especially those metabolized more slowly, such as isomaltulose.
Despite the profound benefits of resistance training on health
and performance, in certain circumstances, excessive demands
can be placed on the recovery process. Though WP has been
shown to be an effective supplement, resistance training protocols with high volume, frequency, and glycolytic demands may
place greater stress on recovery than the traditional workouts
that have been used to study WP. Therefore, the purpose of this
study was to compare recovery from highly demanding resistance exercise with WP or a supplement containing whey,
HMB, and a slow-release carbohydrate (isomaltulose).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This investigation examined EAS Recovery Protein (RP;
EAS Sports Nutrition/Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH), a
nutritional supplement containing calcium beta-hydroxy-betamethylbutyrate (HMB), isomaltulose, and whey protein. A
double-blind, counterbalanced within-group design was used
to evaluate whether RP was able to offset indirect markers of
tissue disruption caused by intense resistance exercise better
than WP alone (see Fig. 1). The recovery process was assessed
using blood markers of muscle damage (CK), blood hormone

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Fig. 1. Study design: (A) visit sequence and (B) timeline of the acute testing protocol.

concentrations of potential therapeutic targets, perception of

muscle soreness, and countermovement jump performance.

Subjects
Thirteen men (age: 22.6 3.9 years; height: 175.3
12.2 cm; weight: 86.2 9.8 kg) with at least one year of
resistance training experience volunteered to participate in the
study. Height was measured using a stadiometer (Seca, Hamburg, Germany). Weight was measured using a calibrated scale
(OHAUS Corp., Florham Park, NJ). All subjects were fully
informed of the protocol design and associated risks of this
investigation before signing an informed consent approved by
the University of Connecticut Institutional Review Board for
use of human subjects.

Procedures
Familiarization Visit
During the initial familiarization visit, subjects were familiarized with the warm-up protocol used before all experimental
visits. The warm-up included 5 minutes using a cycle ergometer (Precor, Woodinville, WA) at resistance level 5 with a
speed of 60 rpm. This was followed by dynamic stretches.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NUTRITION

Subjects then performed a countermovement jump test with

3 consecutive jumps on a forceplate (Fitness Technologies,
Skye, South Australia, Australia), which were subsequently
analyzed for peak force, power, and velocity (Ballistic Measurement System software, Innervations, Perth, Western Australia). Subjects were instructed to jump as high as possible,
maintain hands on hips, and not pause between jumps.

Dietary Counseling
Before supplement loading, subjects were asked to complete a trial 3-day diet record, which served as a familiarization. Food records were analyzed for protein content using
NutritionistPro software (Axxya Systems, Stafford, TX). Following analysis, subjects received dietary counseling to help
maintain a prescribed protein intake of 1 g of protein per kilogram of body mass. Subjects were instructed to follow this prescription during the subsequent 2-week supplement loading
phase. Adherence to the dietary prescription was assessed over
a 3-day period during the supplement loading phase and a 5day period during the acute testing phase. During the second
cycle, adherence was again confirmed during the supplement
loading phase, and subjects were asked replicate the 5-day diet
used during the first cycle. Analysis of the dietary records

Additive Effects of HMB and Isomaltulose

indicated reasonable adherence to the nutritional guidelines(0.8
to 1.2 g/body weight of daily protein intake, per nutritional
analysis).

described warm-up, countermovement jumps were performed.

At the beginning of all testing visits, adequate hydration was
determined by urine specific gravity  1.025, as measured
with a refractometer (Reichert, Lincolnshire, IL).

Supplement Loading Phase

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Three Day Workout Sequence

Subjects consumed either RP supplement (260 kcal, 20 g
protein, 1.5 g HMB, 41 g carbohydrate, 2 g fat) or whey protein (100 kcal, 20 g protein, 2.5 g carbohydrate, 1 g fat). This
isonitrogenous comparison allowed us to examine the additive
effects of HMB and carbohydrate, while using commercially
available supplements used by competitive and recreational
athletes. During the 2-week loading phase, single servings
were taken twice daily, once in the morning and once following each workout. On days where no workouts were performed,
the supplement was taken in the evening. To ensure compliance with supplement consumption guidelines, subjects were
asked to bring empty supplement packets to the lab, and after
workouts, supplement consumption was directly monitored.
During the first week, subjects performed 3 workouts separated
by at least 48 hours of rest. The first workout was a replication
of day one of the acute testing protocol that followed (Table 1).
The second and third workouts were similar to those used on
days 2 and 3, with the only difference being that they were performed with one minute of rest. This was done in an attempt to
ensure familiarization with the protocol, while still allowing
for novel stimuli during the testing week (where rest was
0.5 minutes). During week 2, only 2 workouts were performed.
Again, a replication of day 1 was followed by 48 hours of rest
before day 2, where subjects were given one minute of rest
between sets.

Baseline Visit
Baseline data for muscle soreness and countermovement
jump were taken at the end of the supplement loading phase, at
least 2 days before the beginning of the acute testing protocol
and at least 48 hours following the final workout of the supplement loading phase. Muscle soreness was assessed with a 5point Likert scale during recovery visits, which took place 24
and 48 hours after the last workout. After the previously

The acute testing protocol was performed on 3 consecutive

days (workouts described in Table 1). Loading was determined
based on a workout log that was filled out during the supplement loading phase and each set was performed to failure. All
loads and repetition numbers recorded during cycle one were
replicated during the second cycle.

Blood Collection
Samples were obtained by venipuncture from an antecubital
vein by a trained phlebotomist in the morning between 6:00
and 10:00 AM following a minimum of a 12-hour fast immediately before the workout for the respective visit. Throughout
the study, subjects performed all visits at the same time of day.
Blood samples were also obtained immediately (IP) and
15 minutes (C15) and 60 minutes (C60) after each workout
and then 24 and 48 hours after the last workout, during recovery visits. Blood was collected as serum, which was centrifuged at 1500 g at 4
C for 15 minutes. Serum was then
aliquoted and stored at 80
C.

Biochemistry
Creatine kinase was analyzed using creatine kinaseSL
assays (SEKISUI, Charlottetown, Canada) with a coefficient of
variation (CV) of 3.7%. The assay wavelength was read at
340 nm on a Biomate3 Spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific,
Pittsburgh, PA). Cortisol and testosterone were analyzed using
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA; CALBiotech,
Spring Valley, CA), with sensitivities of 11.1 and 0.8 nmol/L,
respectively. These assays had an intra-and interassay CVs of
below 7.2%. IL-6, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and
IGFBP3 were analyzed using a Quantikine ELISA (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). The assays had sensitivities of
0.06 pg/mL, 0.026 ng/mL, and 0.05 ng/mL. Intra-assay CVs

Table 1. Three-Day Workout Sequencea

Day 1: Heavy
Exercise

Sets

Barbell squat
Bench press
Bent over row
Deadlift
Shoulder press
Lateral pulldown

5
5
3
3
2
2

Day 2: Metabolic

Day 3: Metabolic

Repetitions

Rest (min)

Sets

Repetitions

Rest (min)

Sets

Repetitions

Rest (min)

35
35
35
35
68
68

3
3
3
3
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3

810
810
810
810
810
810

0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

3
3
3
3
3
3

810
810
810
810
810
810

0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

Workouts were performed on consecutive days at the same time of day. Rest period represents time in minutes between each set.

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Additive Effects of HMB and Isomaltulose

depicted in Fig. 4, countermovement jump power was significantly greater when subjects consumed RP, with values that
did not differ from baseline (p  0.05). Moreover, despite significant increases in soreness from baseline in both groups, perceived soreness was significantly lower in RP at 24 hours (p 
0.05; Fig. 5).

were 6.2%, 4.1%, and 4.6%, and interassay CVs were 8.3%,
5.7%, and 6.2%, respectively. All ELISAs were measured in
duplicate on a Versamax tunable microplate reader (Molecular
Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) at the appropriate wavelength for
that particular assay.

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Statistical Analyses
A repeated measures analysis of variance was used for the
selected dependent variables. Linear assumptions were tested
and, if necessary, a Huynh-Feldt sphericity correction
was applied. The variable (IL-6) that failed the test for normality after correction was logarithmically transformed and tested
again. Pairwise comparisons were made with Bonferroni post
hoc tests. Statistical analyses were completed using the nQuery
Advisor software (Statistical Solutions, Saugus, MA). Statistical power for our sample size ranged from 0.76 to 0.87. Significance was set a priori at p  0.05.

DISCUSSION
The primary finding of this study is that when high loads
and short periods are used during high-frequency resistance
exercise, the addition of HMB and a slow-release carbohydrate
to WP is more effective than WP alone at promoting recovery.
This was evidenced not only by reductions in indirect markers
muscle damage but by reductions in muscle soreness and
improved physical performance. Though WP has previously
been shown to increase lean body mass [6], increased training
demands may require further supplement optimization. Subjects in the aforementioned study generally trained for 3 nonconsecutive days per week, whereas subjects in the present
study exercised on 3 consecutive days, with shorter rest periods. The relative advantage of WP is likely due to its higher
leucine content, but when greater demands are placed on the
bodys recovery processes, the addition of a leucine derivative
(HMB) to WP may improve the efficacy of the supplement.
HMB has also been shown effective in reducing markers of
muscle damage following one session [16], 3 weeks [14], and
4 weeks [15] of resistance training performed 3 days per week.
However, in these studies a significant difference in CK activity was not seen until the third or fourth week. In the present

RESULTS
We observed significant differences between supplements
that were mostly confined to the recovery visits, which took
place 24 and 48 hours after the third workout of the acute testing protocol. A comprehensive summary of observed circulating hormone concentrations is provided in Table 2. Circulating
CK was significantly lower with RP at rest on day 2 and during
the 24-and 48-hour recovery visits when compared to WP (p 
0.05; see Fig. 2). During both recovery visits, IL-6 was also
significantly lower in the RP group (p  0.05; see Fig. 3). As
Table 2. Hormonal Response Dataa
Testosterone (nmolL1)
Day Time
1

4
5

Pre
IP
15
60
Pre
IP
15
60
Pre
IP
15
60
C24
C48

WP
20.1
22.5
21.7
19.9
20.4
24.9
24.1
19.2
19.6
25.6
24.2
19.4
20.4
21.7

6.8
8.9
8.1
8.2
5.8
9.8
8.8
6.7
5.1
9.7
8.5
6.1
6.3
4.8

IGF-1 (ngml1)

RP
20.9
23.5
22.3
20.4
20.8
24.9
24.9
18.0
20.5
25.8
24.9
19.6
21.5
20.7

4.9
8.6
6.8
5.8
4.7
8.5
8.3
5.3
4.3
7.8
6.4
6.0
6.0
5.8

WP

IGFBP3 (ngml1)

RP

WP

RP

172.0 40.3 178.1 37.0 2338.0 557.0 2396.0 479.0

187.6 30.6 192.3 31.0 2688.0 593.0 2812.0 637.0
170.6 34.0 173.4 35.9 2357.0 549.0 2368.0 595.0
b

176.7 40.4 180.1 39.0 2435.0 479.0 2317.0 537.0

192.7 43.8 199.6 37.7 2978.0 692.0 2901.0 631.0
172.4 39.3 175.6 35.2 2302.0 642.0 2302.0 542.0
b

181.0 39.5 175.2 36.2 2260.0 459.0 2245.0 530.0

195.2 40.0 200.2 34.8 2724.0 662.0 2789.0 691.0
168.3 36.5 176.5 33.4 2269.0 542.0 2248.0 586.0

Cortisol (nmolL1)

179.0 47.8 177.2 31.5 2280.0 476.0 2300.0 542.0

172.7 34.9 168.3 37.9 2221.0 454.0 2341.0 578.0

WP
447.0
584.0
558.0
497.0
609.0
858.0
1157.0
920.0
698.0
886.0
991.0
661.0
654.0
529.0

RP

106.0
475.0 114.0
241.0
582.0 206.0
213.0
554.0 224.0
186.0
391.0 154.0
636.0 222.0*
181.0*
*
360.0
871.0 288.0*y
346.0*y 1103.0 267.0*y
374.0*y 915.0 311.0*
282.0*
633.0 196.0*
*
295.0
853.0 299.0*y
373.0*y 1001.0 352.0*y
270.0
621.0 218.0*
144.0*
609.0 174.0*
154.0
538.0 115.0

IGF-1 D insulin-like growth factor-1, WP D whey protein, RP D recovery protein.

a
Circulating hormone concentrations measured in the blood at time points surrounding the workout sequence. Data are presented as mean SD.
b
Samples were not measured at these time points.
*Significantly (p  0.05) different from corresponding day 1 pre.
y
Significantly (p  0.05) different from preworkout value from corresponding visit.

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Additive Effects of HMB and Isomaltulose

Fig. 2. Effect of EAS recovery protein vs whey protein on blood serum creatine kinase concentrations during a 3-day workout sequence. #Significant
(p  0.05) difference between treatments at corresponding time point.

study, significant differences were seen after 3 days of resistance training. The study by Nissen et al. [14] compared HMB
to a control supplement with no protein, whereas this study
compared the addition of HMB to aWP supplement. This comparison highlights the additive effects of HMB and WP under
conditions of heightened training demands and provides further
support for the theory that the treatment effects of HMB and
WP are driven by leucine content.
Although this study provided further support for the role of
HMB in cell membrane stability, no between-group differences
were observed in terms of the other blood hormones. Thus, this
study does not provide indirect evidence for a role of IGF-1 in

enhanced protein synthesis or for reduced glucocorticoid activity

and protein degradation, which have been inconsistently shown
in past work [10,16] (Table 2). Prior evidence for a role of HMB
in these mechanisms has been observed in cell culture or animal
models. Because increases in circulating HMB after ingestion are
likely smaller than those observed when used in vitro, the supplement may have failed to adequately stimulate IGF-1 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity or suppress cortisol
activity. Alternatively, such responses may occur in muscle tissue
but without detectable effects on circulating hormone concentrations. Nevertheless, it is important to note that long-term
improvements in muscle mass and strength have been shown in

Fig. 3. Effect of EAS recovery protein vs whey protein on blood serum interleukin-6 concentrations during a 3-day workout sequence. #Significant
(p  0.05) difference between treatments at corresponding time point. *Significant (p  0.05) difference from corresponding pre-exercise value.

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Fig. 4. Effect of EAS recovery protein vs whey protein on countermovement vertical jump performance during a 3-day workout sequence. #Significant (p  0.05) difference between treatments at corresponding time point.

elderly women [25] and untrained men [26] with HMB supplementation. This suggests that if the growth factor response is not
the primary biological mechanism of action, improvements in
cell membrane integrity transfer to measurable differences in
long-term strength and muscle mass, in addition to acute
improvements in muscle damage, performance, and important
perceptual factors, as observed in this and past work [16].
Although WP and RP did not differ with respect to circulating
hormone concentrations, WP alone may be suboptimal in supporting recovery when resistance training is highly glycolytic. IL-6 is
often elevated during times of glycogen depletion [20,21], and carbohydrate supplementation has been demonstrated to attenuate this

response [21]. Although cytokine responses have been studied to a

greater extent in endurance activities, elevations in IL-6 have also
been observed following resistance training [22,23]. Interestingly,
the IL-6 concentrations measured in these studies were much
greater than those observed in the present study (7.72 and 4.5 pg/
ml, respectively, vs 2.2 pg/ml). These differences may reflect the
greater volume [22] or untrained subjects used by others [23]. Irrespective of the lower IL-6 concentrations observed in this study,
the addition of a slow-release carbohydrate to WP was effective at
attenuating the IL-6 response. This suggests that the addition of isomaltulose to WP may be beneficial during times of increased training volume, as well as in previously untrained subjects.

Fig. 5. Effect of EAS recovery protein vs whey protein perceived muscle soreness during a 3-day workout sequence. #Significant (p  0.05) difference
between treatments at corresponding time point. *Significantly (p  0.05) different from baseline value for corresponding treatment. ySignificantly
(p  0.05) different from 24-hour value for corresponding treatment.

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Additive Effects of HMB and Isomaltulose

CONCLUSION
When resistance training combines high training frequencies with high loads and short rest periods, a greater demand is
placed on the bodys recovery processes, which increases the
need for supplementation. Although WP alone has been shown
to be an effective supplement, the addition of HMB and a
slow-release carbohydrate further mediates the recovery process, as evidenced by reduced muscle damage, lower perceived
soreness, and improved athletic performance.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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The authors wish to thank a dedicated group of subjects and

research team members who made this study possible.

FUNDING
This study was funded in part by a grant from EAS Sports
Nutrition, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH.

AUTHOR NOTE
Current affiliations are as follows: Brian R. Kupchak - U.S.
Naval Research Laboratory, Bethesda, MD; Courtenay DunnLewis, -Merrimack College, North Andover, MA; Brett A.
Comstock - University of South Dakota, Vermilion SD; Adam
J. Sterczala - University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; Hiu-Ying
Luk- University of North Texas, Denton, TX.

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