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Supplementation with a combination of beta‐hydroxy‐beta‐methylbutyrate (HMB), arginine, and glutamine is safe and could improve hematological parameters
Author(s) -
Rathmacher JA,
Nissen S,
Panton L,
Clark RH,
May PE,
Barber AE,
D'Olimpio J,
Abumrad NN
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/014860710402800265
Subject(s) - glutamine , arginine , hematocrit , medicine , placebo , endocrinology , blood urea nitrogen , adverse effect , creatinine , hemoglobin , amino acid , biology , biochemistry , pathology , alternative medicine
BACKGROUND: Combining the amino acids arginine and glutamine with the leucine metabolite beta‐hydroxy‐beta‐methylbutyrate (HMB) has been shown to reverse lean tissue loss in cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Although each of these nutrients has been shown to be safe, the safety of this mixture has not been reported. Three double‐blind studies examined the safety of the combination of HMB, arginine and glutamine on blood chemistries, hematology, emotional profile, and adverse events. METHODS: Study 1 was conducted in healthy adult males (n = 34), study 2 was in HIV patients with AIDS‐associated weight loss (n = 43), and study 3 was in cancer patients with wasting (n = 32). Volunteers were assigned to either a placebo or a mixture of 3 g HMB, 14 g arginine, and 14 g glutamine per day. RESULTS: Across the 3 studies, HMB, arginine, and glutamine supplementation was not associated with any adverse indicators of health. The only significant changes noted were positive indicators of health status. HMB, arginine, and glutamine supplementation was associated with an improvement in emotional profile (p =.05), a decreased feeling of weakness (p =.03), and increased red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes, and eosinophils (p <.05) when compared with placebo‐supplemented subjects. Blood creatinine levels were not changed. However, blood urea nitrogen increased (p =.01) with HMB, arginine, and glutamine supplementation, which was possibly caused by the additional nitrogen consumed or to the fact that ureagenesis is influenced by arginine and glutamine supplementation. CONCLUSION: These results show that HMB, arginine, and glutamine can be safely used to treat muscle wasting associated with AIDS and cancer.