訓練過程中，運動員經常藉助各種營養補充品以達到提升訓練效果、修補運動誘發之損傷、防範可能發生的運動傷害。HMB已被廣泛用於提升肌力、增加骨骼肌含量與協助疲勞恢復等，除此之外，HMB可能具有影響骨質代謝之作用。因此本研究欲探討在重量訓練時補充HMB後，對骨質代謝產生的影響；並探討補充HMB後，對於血液中骨質代謝指標與單核前驅細胞內細胞蛋白的影響。自國立台灣體育運動大學招募之16名健康的男性受試者，分為補充HMB組與補充安慰劑組。於為期一個月的訓練週期內，每天補充3 g HMB。訓練強度根據由教練所指示之訓練計畫執行。實驗中每週進行採血，分析血液中骨調控細胞激素、骨骼代謝指標、骨代謝相關荷爾蒙之血中濃度。並自可能生成破骨前驅細胞的血液單核球中分析細胞內調控蛋白IκB-α（nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha）與單核細胞膜上的RANK受體表現量。結果發現，補充HMB造成骨合成指標B-ALP顯著且持續上升至訓練期結束；骨礦化指標osteocalcin則兩組間並無明顯差異；骨分解指標beta-crosslaps則是HMB組略低於控制組；骨調控激素PTH顯著上升而組間無顯著差異；代謝分解指標cortisol僅於第一週的HMB組出現顯著上升之變化；補充HMB對於骨骼調控細胞激素sRANKL與OPG均無明顯影響，細胞表面受體RANK僅於Placebo組第一週達顯著性的上升，隨後恢復至訓練前水平；IκB-α蛋白兩組皆自第一週起即顯著的下降，但Placebo組維持第一週水平至訓練結束，而HMB組則持續下降，並於第四週組間達顯著性差異。本研究主要發現，為期四週的訓練週期中，每日補充3克HMB，除了因訓練所提升骨質礦化作用外，還能額外提升造骨細胞的活性，提高骨質的合成作用；並減少減少由運動刺激所造成的骨質分解作用，整體而言，促進骨質增加，保護骨骼系統。
Dietary supplement of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate had been proven to increase lean body mass, collagen decomposition and bone mass. The mechanisms of HMB supplements promote myogenesis had bee well-documented but the mechanism of HMB inhibit osteoclastogenesis remains unclear. As for as we can research, NF-κB pathway might play an important role in it. Differenciation and proliferation of osteoclast require activation of RANK and downstream NF-κB pathway by RANK ligand(RANKL). During exercise training, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production activate NF-κB pathway and consequently promote osteoclastogenesis. HMB might reduce osteoclast proliferation and differenciation through inhibition of NF-κB pathway activated by RANKL. Therefore, we proposed present study to discover the effect of HMB supplement and weightlifting training on bone metabolic responses and possible molecular mechanism of those responses. Sixteen healthy male were recruited for present study and divided into two groups with matched body weight. Training protocol were followed by certified weightlifting coach during four weeks of training session and well recorded. All subjects required to take 3 grams of HMB daily on early morning after blood sample were collected. Fasting blood sample were collected weekly in eaaly morning by venipuncture for further analyze. During four weeks of training, HMB supplement increased serum B-ALP level and slightly reduced beta-crosslaps, a bone resorption biochemical marker while no differences were found on bone mineralize marker osteocalcin between groups. Bone modulatint cytokines OPG and RANKL level were not altered by HMB supplement. Somehow, OPG level seems to consist with training volumn in both group. PTH level was obviously increased in both groups while no difference were found between groups. cortisol in group HMB has raised siginificantly in first week then back to the baseline level. Intracellular IκB-α expression were decreaseed in both groups ever since the training has began and eventually significantly different at week 4. Result of present study indicates that 3g of HMB supplement daily promotes bone formation and slightly reduced bone resorption while mineralization were not affected during four weeks of weightlifting training.