Protein2026-08

Calcium Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate-Enriched Nutritional Supplementation During Dietary Weight Loss in Adults With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Jiang Jiaojiao, Liang Yuxiang, Wang Renjie, Jiang Wenhua et al. — Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle

Summary

A study investigated if a supplement containing CaHMB and protein could help obese adults lose weight without losing muscle. Participants who took the supplement during a calorie-restricted diet maintained their muscle mass and experienced greater reductions in body fat compared to a control group. This suggests the supplement may support healthier weight loss by protecting muscle while targeting fat.

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Key points

A study explored the effects of a CaHMB-enriched supplement, which also contained protein, on obese adults undergoing a calorie-restricted diet.
Participants taking the supplement successfully maintained their skeletal muscle mass during weight loss.
The supplement group also experienced greater reductions in total body fat and visceral fat compared to a control group.
These findings suggest that such a supplement could support healthier weight loss by preserving muscle while reducing fat.

What the study looked at

What question the study asked: This study aimed to determine if a nutritional supplement containing calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (CaHMB) and protein could help adults with obesity lose body fat while preserving their muscle mass during a calorie-restricted diet. Losing muscle is a common concern during weight loss. How it was studied: Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind trial involving 102 Chinese adults with obesity. For 12 weeks, half the participants received the CaHMB-enriched supplement, while the other half received an energy-matched placebo. Both groups followed a standardized calorie-restricted diet. Muscle mass, body fat, and other health markers were measured. What it found: The study found that participants taking the CaHMB-enriched supplement maintained their muscle mass, whereas the control group experienced a loss of muscle. Additionally, the supplement group showed greater reductions in both total body fat and visceral fat (fat around organs) compared to the control group. The supplement also helped preserve basal metabolic rate.

Dietary takeaway

For individuals aiming for weight loss, especially those with obesity, ensuring adequate protein intake is crucial to help preserve muscle mass. This study suggests that a supplement containing CaHMB and protein might be a useful addition to a calorie-restricted diet to support muscle maintenance while reducing body fat. However, it's important to remember that this is just one study, and more research is needed to confirm these effects and isolate the specific role of CaHMB versus protein.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dietary and pharmacologic weight loss can reduce skeletal muscle. Whether calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (CaHMB)-enriched supplementation preserves muscle while promoting fat loss in adults with obesity remains uncertain. We evaluated a CaHMB-enriched nutritional supplement during energy restriction. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 102 Chinese adults with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 28 kg/m) were assigned 1:1 to a CaHMB-enriched nutritional supplement (65 g/day powder containing 3.0 g/day CaHMB and 24 g/day protein) or an energy-matched maltodextrin control for 12 weeks, alongside standardized dietary energy restriction. The primary outcome was change in whole-body skeletal muscle mass (SMM) by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Secondary outcomes included visceral fat area (VFA), body fat mass (BFM), basal metabolic rate (BMR), physical function and metabolic biomarkers. ITT analyses adjusted for baseline values, age, sex, dietary intake and physical activity changes. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 36.8 ± 5.2 years, a mean BMI of 32.2 ± 3.3 kg/m and 37.3% (38/102) were female. The CaHMB group maintained SMM (median +0.7 kg; IQR = -0.2 to 2.0), whereas the control group lost SMM (median = -0.6 kg; IQR = -1.9 to -0.1; between-group difference 1.3 kg; 95% CI = 0.5 to 1.9; p < 0.001). More CaHMB participants gained ≥ 0.5 kg SMM (52.9% vs. 11.8%; OR = 8.44; 95% CI = 3.23 to 25.22; p < 0.001). CaHMB also produced greater reductions in VFA (adjusted mean difference [AMD] = -14.9 cm; 95% CI = -25.1 to -4.5; p = 0.004) and BFM (AMD = -4.9 kg; 95% CI = -6.8 to -3.1; p < 0.001), preserved BMR (difference 62.0 kcal/day; 95% CI = 35.0 to 89.0; p < 0.001) and reduced fasting glucose more than control (difference -0.4 mmol/L; 95% CI = -0.8 to -0.1; p = 0.009). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: During dietary weight loss, CaHMB-enriched supplementation preserved SMM and produced greater visceral and total fat reductions. Because the intervention also contained protein, longer factorial trials are needed to isolate CaHMB-specific effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04953936.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.70343