Summary:
In hemodialysis (HD) patients, supplementation with a food for special medical purposes (FFSMP) containing free-form branched-chain amino acids, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, and zinc significantly increased muscle thickness and fat-free mass, while reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory markers compared to placebo supplementation over 12 weeks (10 g/day in two sachets), though it was associated with no major adverse effects.
| PICO | Description |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD), experiencing muscle wasting and chronic inflammation. |
| Intervention | Supplementation with an FFSMP composed of free-form branched-chain amino acids, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, and zinc (10 g/day; two sachets) for 12 weeks. |
| Comparison | Placebo supplementation for the same duration, with 8-week wash-out period between crossover arms. |
| Outcome | FFSMP significantly increased quadriceps rectus femoris thickness and fat-free mass percentage. It also reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. Routine labs remained stable except for a decrease in pre-dialysis urea. No significant changes in physical performance were detected. Quality of life improved in the domains of energy/fatigue and general health. No major adverse events were reported. |
Source: Marrone, Giulia, et al. “The Combined Use of Hydroxymethylbutyrate and Branched-Chain Amino Acids to Counteract Uremic Sarcopenia.” Nutrients, Feb 2026. Read article here.
