Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41683304›Full record

Trial reportNutrients2026

The Combined Use of Hydroxymethylbutyrate and Branched-Chain Amino Acids to Counteract Uremic Sarcopenia.

Giulia Marrone, Manuela Di Lauro, Kevin Cornali, Sabri Shamsan Hassan, Gabriele D'Urso, Luca Di Marco, Sara Dominijanni, Roberto Palumbo, Anna Paola Mitterhofer, Annalisa Noce

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Giulia MarroneDepartment of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5854-2086
Manuela Di LauroDepartment of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8118-1330
Kevin CornaliDepartment of Experimental Medicine, PhD School in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-8904-4399
Sabri Shamsan HassanNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Nuova Clinica Annunziatella, 00147 Rome, Italy.
Gabriele D'UrsoUOSD Nephrology and Dialysis, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-2515-7773
Luca Di MarcoNational PhD School in Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, University of Verona, Chiostro San Francesco, 37123 Verona, Italy.ORCID 0009-0006-8173-8761
Sara DominijanniNephrology and Dialysis Unit, ASL Roma 2, St Eugenio Hospital, 00144 Rome, Italy.
Roberto PalumboNephrology and Dialysis Unit, ASL Roma 2, St Eugenio Hospital, 00144 Rome, Italy.
Anna Paola MitterhoferDepartment of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0132-386X
Annalisa NoceDepartment of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1310-3730

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHemodialysis (HD) patients frequently develop muscle wasting and chronic inflammation, conditions associated with functional decline and reduced quality of life (QoL). Nutritional strategies that provide targeted anabolic support without increasing nitrogen load may offer clinical benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible impact of a food for special medical purposes (FFSMP), composed of free-form branched-chain amino acids, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, and zinc, on muscle mass and strength, laboratory parameters, physical performance (PP), and QoL in HD patients.

methodsin this randomized double-blind crossover study, 24 adult HD patients received the FFSMP (10 g/day; two sachets) supplementation or placebo for 12 weeks, separated by an 8-week wash-out (protocol code RS 29.23). Measured outcomes included quadriceps rectus femoris thickness (QRFT) muscle, body composition analysis, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress indices, other routine biochemical parameters, PP, and QoL (SF-36 questionnaire).

resultsFFSMP supplementation resulted in significant increases in QRFT and in fat-free mass percentage. Reductions in oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were observed. Routine biochemical parameters remained stable, with the exception of a decrease in pre-dialysis urea. Functional performance measures did not differ between treatment periods. Improvements were noted in selected SF-36 domains, specifically energy/fatigue and general health. No major adverse events occurred during the study.

conclusionsIn HD patients, this FFSMP produced favorable changes in markers of muscle mass and systemic inflammation without affecting short-term physical performance. These findings support the potential clinical utility of targeted amino acid supplementation in this patient population, highlighting the need for larger, longer-term trials.

Indexed as

Amino Acids, Branched-ChainDietary SupplementsSarcopeniaUremiaValeratesAgedBiomarkersBody CompositionCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscle StrengthOxidative StressAmino Acids, Branched-Chainbeta-hydroxyisovaleric acidBiomarkersValeratesbranched chain amino acidsfood for special medical purposeshemodialysishydroxymethylbutyratequality of lifeuremic sarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID41683304
PMCPMC12899380

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.