Objective:

This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, checked the effect of the intake of 3 g/day-1 of β-Hidroxy-β-Methylbutyrato on the parameters of the force-time curve in elite kayakers.

Method:

24 paddlers, men, elite with 21.41 ± 5.35 years, 173.36 ± 8.27 cm and 69.83 ± 10.29 kg. Formed two groups, one supplemented (HMB) and another placebo (CON), both followed for 14 days and subjected to maximum test 4 min (pre and post) in a kayak ergometer.

Results:

Point improvement in mechanical efficiency in line with the significant increase in the generated pulse (17.23% p = 0.02), average power (26.6% p = 0.01), stroke frequency (13.5% p = 0.04) before maximum test 4 min ergometer.

Conclusion:

There was improvement in the ability to generate power, which may be associated with supplementation of β-Hidroxy-β-Methylbutyrato by reducing catabolism during training, however the mechanism by which this may occur is still unknown.