Table 3.

Summary of studies included in the systematic review that investigated the effect of CrM plus HMB on markers of muscle damage and hormone status outcomes.

Author/s	Population	Intervention	Outcomes	Effects
				CrM+HMB Vs CON/PLG	CrM+HMB Vs CrM	CrM+HMB Vs HMBG
Crowe et al., (2003) [38]	28 male elite rugby players (24.9 ± 0.7 years)	Controlled CrM: 3 g/day HMB: 3 g/day Duration: 6 weeks	Testosterone Cortisol CK Urea	Testosterone cortisol CK Urea	No data shown	Testosterone cortisol CK Urea
Faramarzi et al., (2009) [35]	24 soccer players (21.6 ± 0.1 years)	Randomized, placebo- controlled CrM: 3 g/day HMB: 3 g/day Duration: 6 days	CK LDH	CK LDH	No data shown	CK LDH
Jówko et al., (2001) [36]	40 healthy males (21.0 ± 2.1 years)	Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled CrM: 20 g/day (first 1 week) + 10 g/day (2 weeks) HMB: 3 g/day Duration: 3 weeks	CK Urea nitrogen	CK ↓Urea nitrogen	↑CK Urea nitrogen	↑CK Urea nitrogen
O’Connor & Crowe (2003) [39]	27 male elite rugby players (18–32 years)	Controlled CrM: 3 g/day HMB: 3 g/day Duration: 6 weeks	LA (blood)	LA	No data shown	LA
Zajac et al., (2003) [37]	52 well trained basketball players (25.6 ± 5.6 years)	Randomized, placebo- controlled CrM: 15 g/day (first 5 days) + 5 g/day (rest of the days) HMB: 3 g/day Duration: 30 days	LA CK LDH	LA CK LDH	LA CK LDH	LA ↑ CK ↑ LDH

CrM: Creatine monohydrate supplementation, HMB: HMB supplementation, CON/PLG: placebo or control group, HMBG: HMB supplementation group, CrMG: Creatine monohydrate supplementation group, CK: creatine kinase, LA: blood lactate, LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; ↑: Increase, ↓: Decrease, : No effect.