HISTORY
When HMB was introduced, the pressure on retailers was HUGE to carry it. It was new, exciting and cutting edge. There were studies showing it worked, and the ad copy screamed that it felt like a steroid.
Fast forward a few decades to the debut of HMB "Free Acid". Finally, the absorption, up-take and utilization issues had been solved. And the study used to promote it? Absolute drug like gains - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24599749.
I called John up about it, expressing my reservations. He too, said he was in agreement: Once junk, always junk. I actually got a free bottle of MuscleSchlepp's garbage. Ran the whole bottle out, just to make sure. Got absolutely nothing out of it. ZERO. NADA..
The below meta-analysis proves the same.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
My post isn't meant to boast or brag: It's to show that sometimes, junk science is used to promote ineffective product. To spot that, you need instincts. MASS has proven time and again to be a trusted resource, in that regard. Case in point: Synthagen. I came up with that name but John added "Mass Pro" to it. I asked him, "Do you really want your flagship product's label in the name? That seems like a hell of a gamble...". He never hesitated:
"Absolutely, I can tell just looking at the formula this is gonna be big...".
Quoted for truth. You can trust MASS to bring you category killers. And avoid carrying a lot of the junk out there.
Read on, for a most revealing look at how HMB took the supplement world by storm, then fizzled faster than you can say, "feels like Deca...".
___________________________________________________________
HMB: Time To Take Out The Trash
by Anthony Roberts
Back in the mid '90s I was an avid reader of Muscle Media 2000. I'd graduated from reading all of the usual bodybuilding rags and stumbled on the one that I finally considered "the truth". The first issue I'd read was the one right after the decision was made to split with MetRx, who the magazine had been promoting until that point, but still before MM2K (and owner Bill Phillips) had officially purchased Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS).
Opening my first issue of MM2K changed my life. Sound hyperbolic? It's not. The first issue I'd read was my first real introduction to the seedy underworld of bodybuilding and steroids, and my introduction to the original (and only) steroid guru, Dan Duchaine. His writing style and frankness about various topics (anabolics, schmoes, porn, whatever) made me an instant fan; influencing me to successfully pursue my current profession, and writing three books about steroids.
The credibility I'd assigned to Duchaine as a teenager was superimposed on the magazine as a whole, and by extension all of the products they'd promoted. Naturally, EAS was the brand that was touted in the magazine above all others. But there was an extremely clever marketing device at work also, and I think this is how Bill Phillips managed to sell me $100-200 worth of supplements on a monthly basis:
He admitted that some of his products sucked - and that other companies had their own great products. For example, he had always said that their fat burner wasn't as good as Twinlab's Ripped Fuel (this was back in the days of ephedra). And he was right. My natural inclination was to believe that if one of EAS's products were garbage, he'd admit it (as he'd done before). In other words, by throwing one of his poorly-designed products (which was ultimately discontinued) under the bus, it made me believe that whatever else he said was true.
In 1994, "The 22 Immutable Laws of Advertising" was published by Harper Business; Law #15 is The Law of Candor:
"Every negative statement you make about yourself is instantly accepted as truth. Positive statements, on the other hand, are looked at as dubious at best."
Further explaining:
"Whatever your negative issue is, everybody already knows about it anyway. If you don't talk about it, then it will become "the elephant in the room." When you issue yet another sanitized press release, your customers eagerly read it, hoping to see some evidence that you have any self-awareness at all."
Whether or not Phillips had read the book, he was certainly making use of this law of advertising. So by the time he uttered the now-infamous words that HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate) "feels like Deca" (an anabolic steroid), the market was primed to believe him. Bill was our guy. Unfortunately, HMB was - and is - overpriced garbage.
But since it's still being peddled in the supplement industry, and 20 million (1 gram) doses were taken last year alone, I think it's time to take out the trash.
HMB was first studied for its anabolic effect in humans by Iowa State University (and surprise, surprise, they're also the patent-holders). In this original study, 41 healthy males were split into three groups who received either 0, 1.5 or 3 grams of HMB per day. Participants were excluded if they'd weight trained in the past three months - this means, for some people in the study, there could have been prior weight training experience, and this was coming after a layoff - and that they were "gaining back" muscle, not gaining it for the first time. At least one subject had to discontinue a particular exercise because of a prior shoulder injury (indicating to me that he probably had prior training with resistance exercise).
Only 28 of the test subjects actually received HMB, while the rest were part of the control group (received no HMB). Strength was calculated by taking the working sets and multiplying them by the poundages lifted. In other words, doing three sets of ten reps with 200lbs would give you a score of 6,000. The average weight was then divided by the number of exercises, and that gave us a total work score (each participant did the same exercises).
The group that received no HMB at all ended up with a .4kg increase in lean mass, while the 1.5g HMB group showed a .8kg increase in lean mass and the 3g HMB group showed a 1.2kg increase on average. Let's see how Bill Phillips plays the numbers game here:
"By the time the study was over, the group of weight trainers using 3 grams of HMB a day had gained almost 3 solid pounds of lean mass (55% more lean mass than the group of non-users)! In addition, they experienced strength gains that were 295% greater than the test subjects who followed the same workout program but did not use HMB! " ~Bill Phillips, Muscle Media 2000, January, 1996. Volume 47.
Notice that nobody ever mentions relative fat loss from this study? That's because the 3g/day HMB group lost 12% less fat than the non-HMB group, and the control group lost 70% more fat than the 1.5g/day HMB group. So according to this study HMB impairs the body's ability to lose fat.
But to me, the most interesting part of this study was how they calculated strength: it was the number of reps times the number of working sets (three) divided by the number of exercises. This is a bit misleading because it relies on total poundages lifted - by this formula, bench pressing 500lbs for 6 reps (a score of 3,000) would be equal to bench pressing 250lbs for 12 reps. Plenty of people I'd consider not-that-strong can do the latter, while very few can do the former. I wouldn't say that a workout in which someone benched 250 x 12 was equal to one where they benched 500 x 6. So while this is "A" way to measure work output, it leaves a lot to be desired. More appropriately, this would measure work or intensity, but not actual strength gains.
Since then, HMB advocates like to brag, numerous studies have been performed on the compound, each showing that it builds muscle and strength. Without breaking down each and every study similarly to the first one we examined, let's take a look at what happens when we take an overview of the ones that lasted at least three weeks and incorporated a minimum of two days per week of weight training:
And here's how HMB performed in the two studies that were unrelated to the rest and not funded by companies with a vested interest in the outcome:
"no statistically significant differences were observed in general markers of whole body anabolic/catabolic status, muscle and liver enzyme efflux, fat/bone-free mass, fat mass, percent body fat, or 1RM strength. Results indicate that 28 d of HMB supplementation during resistance-training does not reduce catabolism or affect training-induced changes in body composition and strength in experienced resistance-trained males." (Int J Sports Med. 1999 Nov;20(8):503-9.)
"Although the 1RM strength gains were not significantly different, HMB supplementation appears to increase peak isometric and various isokinetic torque values, and increase FFM [fat free mass] and decrease plasma CPK activity. Lastly, it appears that higher doses of HMB do not promote strength or FFM gains." (Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Dec;32(12):2109-15.)
So among unsponsored unrelated studies on HMB, the results are lukewarm at best. And that's being generous. HMB... kind of works, but mostly in an untrained or elderly population, and even then, it's not particularly impressive or dramatic. In experienced trainees, it doesn't really do much, if anything, at all.
More recently, in 2009, another metastudy has been conducted, and reinforces the position that I've previously stated, which most of the supplement industry has known for awhile: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: 2009 May;23 (3):836-46
It doesn't work.
[/i]
HMB: Doesn't feel like Deca (but Synthagen does)
HMB.
Rob is exactly right, we were pushed hard to carry it, formulate with it, promote it.
Everyone was.
What was most clear to me from the onset, was that the vested interests behind HMB envisioned it being the next creatine.
The whole focus was on creating that illusion.
We bought, I think one case, to experiment with and had local college athletes and gym rats give it a go.
Rob and other trusted friends with valued opinions tried it and reported back.
I tried it too, and those who know me well will tell you I'm a very harsh critic and particular about what I put into my body.
No one got anything from it.
No one, and this was with many of the younger jocks having been influenced by all the HMB hype - which can tend to give a positive placebo effect at first.
HMB is just one of probably two dozen similar ingredients we have refused to have anything to do with since 1993.
____
MASS PRO SYNTHAGEN.
Coach Rob undersells it.
For all it's outstanding rep, so have we.
Speak softly, and carry a big stick.
But- If anything works like Deca, it's MASS PRO SYNTHAGEN, MPS, not HMB.
Synthagen took the hardcore supplement scene by storm all on it's own, because it works, and works like nothing else.
It's an organic sensation, not fabricated hyperbole.
Real. True.
We asked him if it was OK to publish the testimonial without the last name, to protect his privacy. He said please do, and use my full name if you like because this product is one I'll gladly speak up for.
That's REAL.
REAL RESULTS is what we've always staked our claim on, and it's a core value not about to change as enter today's new, exciting era at MASS - Muscle And Sports Science.
By the way, let me tell you that Coach Rob Regish spent countless hours working out the brilliant backbone of Synthagen - sparked by a simple end customer need.
Benefit the customer, focus on their needs and you'll do well and be respected is something my first boss told me, and it stuck like gorilla glue.
Insight: I was having dinner with Rob Van Dam in Macon, GA, who was in to work a show for Impact Wrestling. We drove down with some Adaptogen N for him (which he really loves and has never been paid to say so), but I had a question for him- What's missing for an athlete like you, who is pressed for gym time, missing sleep, and forced to eat late night Mexican food (and worse) like this after taking bumps all night?
He suggested "some type of super amino that will make this crap (food) work better"...
Coach Rob was at the time deep into tweaking a new Ecdy array... and at MASS, we know top shelf proteins and amino's if we know anything...
Synthesis... Genesis...
The Yin. The Yang.
The ties that bind.
The number of man hours it took us to reach the final Synthagen formula was massive, but modesty aside it's magic. The initial Synthagen backbone was brilliant, and thereafter Coach, myself, lab techs, RVD and all the trial athletes helped to refine and hone it to sheer perfection.
We knew how good it was, because it worked like mad.
Everyone who trialed it, RAVED.
Every single person.
The exact opposite of HMB, to put a very fine point on it.
Even so, once everything was in place... all the work, sourcing of ingredients, production set... Coach Regish was worried no one would pay it much attention. I remember him asking me, how can we even define this product, it does so much...? I said, really, it's sorts like our favored MASS PRO protein/amino line on steroids... The ProtoGeneX Amino's married with our history in high end Ecdysterones (Zebutol, Adaptogen N. Kre-Anabolyn)...
Not just Synthagen. MASS - PRO - SYNTHAGEN, would set it apart.
Funny, after all that now most devotees simply call it "MPS", or ProSyn", lol.
More info, for those who want to be in the know-
https://bodybuildingsupplements.com/MASS_PRO_Synt ... GeneX.html
https://bodybuildingsupplements.com/synthagen-questions.html
"No junk sold here".
Rob is exactly right, we were pushed hard to carry it, formulate with it, promote it.
Everyone was.
What was most clear to me from the onset, was that the vested interests behind HMB envisioned it being the next creatine.
The whole focus was on creating that illusion.
We bought, I think one case, to experiment with and had local college athletes and gym rats give it a go.
Rob and other trusted friends with valued opinions tried it and reported back.
I tried it too, and those who know me well will tell you I'm a very harsh critic and particular about what I put into my body.
No one got anything from it.
No one, and this was with many of the younger jocks having been influenced by all the HMB hype - which can tend to give a positive placebo effect at first.
HMB is just one of probably two dozen similar ingredients we have refused to have anything to do with since 1993.
____
MASS PRO SYNTHAGEN.
Coach Rob undersells it.
For all it's outstanding rep, so have we.
Speak softly, and carry a big stick.
But- If anything works like Deca, it's MASS PRO SYNTHAGEN, MPS, not HMB.
Synthagen took the hardcore supplement scene by storm all on it's own, because it works, and works like nothing else.
It's an organic sensation, not fabricated hyperbole.
Real. True.
That's not John Drake making a pitch, and it's not Coach Rob proclaiming "feels like Deca!". Dave is a real, long time MASS customer and that's his unsolicited comments on Synthagen, which he felt compelled to email.
"How did you do it? Never used anything except deca and anadrol that made such a difference in how I feel related to the recovery process. Can I buy stock in it? Congratulations."
-Dave, San Luis Obispo, CA
We asked him if it was OK to publish the testimonial without the last name, to protect his privacy. He said please do, and use my full name if you like because this product is one I'll gladly speak up for.
That's REAL.
REAL RESULTS is what we've always staked our claim on, and it's a core value not about to change as enter today's new, exciting era at MASS - Muscle And Sports Science.
By the way, let me tell you that Coach Rob Regish spent countless hours working out the brilliant backbone of Synthagen - sparked by a simple end customer need.
Benefit the customer, focus on their needs and you'll do well and be respected is something my first boss told me, and it stuck like gorilla glue.
Insight: I was having dinner with Rob Van Dam in Macon, GA, who was in to work a show for Impact Wrestling. We drove down with some Adaptogen N for him (which he really loves and has never been paid to say so), but I had a question for him- What's missing for an athlete like you, who is pressed for gym time, missing sleep, and forced to eat late night Mexican food (and worse) like this after taking bumps all night?
He suggested "some type of super amino that will make this crap (food) work better"...
Coach Rob was at the time deep into tweaking a new Ecdy array... and at MASS, we know top shelf proteins and amino's if we know anything...
Synthesis... Genesis...
The Yin. The Yang.
The ties that bind.
The number of man hours it took us to reach the final Synthagen formula was massive, but modesty aside it's magic. The initial Synthagen backbone was brilliant, and thereafter Coach, myself, lab techs, RVD and all the trial athletes helped to refine and hone it to sheer perfection.
We knew how good it was, because it worked like mad.
Everyone who trialed it, RAVED.
Every single person.
The exact opposite of HMB, to put a very fine point on it.
Even so, once everything was in place... all the work, sourcing of ingredients, production set... Coach Regish was worried no one would pay it much attention. I remember him asking me, how can we even define this product, it does so much...? I said, really, it's sorts like our favored MASS PRO protein/amino line on steroids... The ProtoGeneX Amino's married with our history in high end Ecdysterones (Zebutol, Adaptogen N. Kre-Anabolyn)...
Not just Synthagen. MASS - PRO - SYNTHAGEN, would set it apart.
Funny, after all that now most devotees simply call it "MPS", or ProSyn", lol.
More info, for those who want to be in the know-
https://bodybuildingsupplements.com/MASS_PRO_Synt ... GeneX.html
https://bodybuildingsupplements.com/synthagen-questions.html
"No junk sold here".