beta-Hydroxyisovaleric acid

beta-Hydroxyisovaleric acid is a naturally occurring small molecule metabolite produced in the human body as a byproduct of the essential amino acid leucine degradation pathway. It is also known as HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) and has been studied both as a biomarker and as a dietary supplement. Clinically, elevated levels of beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid serve as a sensitive indicator of marginal biotin deficiency and may indicate genetic disorders such as biotinidase deficiency or holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency[4][6]. As an ergogenic aid, supplementation with this compound (as HMB) has been shown to increase muscle mass, strength, and lean body mass while reducing muscle breakdown in various populations including athletes and individuals experiencing age-related muscle loss[5][6]. Its mechanism involves stimulating protein synthesis and inhibiting protein degradation in skeletal muscle tissue[5]. The compound is under investigation for its effects on glucose handling in clinical trials[1].

Other names

3-hydroxyisovaleric acid3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid3-OH-isovaleric acidB-hydroxyisovaleric acidButanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-beta-Hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acidβ-Hydroxy β-methylbutyric acidβ-Hydroxyisovalerate