HMB’s successor is called HICA

[mistersalvo]

here are already supplements that contain HICA on the market, but they contain too little of the amino acid to be effective. Now everyone’s waiting for the product from Oy Elmomed, the company that the inventors of HICA set up; or someone who doesn’t take patent law so seriously and decides to market the leucine metabolite themselves. According to a human study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the substance is anabolic.

The compound we’re talking about is called L-leucic acid, but the Finns call it alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid (HICA). Its full name is DL-alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid. [Structural formula on the right.] It’s found in muscles and tendons when cells burn the amino acid leucine.

Muscle cells are always on the lookout for leucine. If they find many leucine molecules they conclude that there's a lot of amino acid present and start to produce more muscle protein. A leucine metabolite like HICA tells muscle cells that they are burning amino acids, and that they need to step up their anti-catabolic processes.

Another leucine metabolite you’re probably familiar with is HMB. HMB inhibits the entire protein metabolism process in muscle cells, and is sold as an anticatabolic supplement.

The Finns came across HICA when they found a patent filed by researchers at the American Johns Hopkins University in 1973. According to this, oxidised amino acids inhibit the breakdown of proteins in the body. [US Patent 1444621] The researchers, sports scientists at Finnish universities, bought the metabolite from a bulk supplier and gave it to soccer players, wrestlers and basketball players. When they got positive results, they immediately filed for a patent on the use of the amino acids in sports supplements. [US Patent 20080108698]

From the patent research we compiled the table below. It shows the effect of a 6-week course of HICA on a basketball player who took half a gram of HICA three times a day.

che ne pensate?? conoscevate questa molecola??

[manakei]

L'articolo parla di 400g di massa magra in 4 settimane con 1.5g di HICA al giorno divisi in 3 assunzioni.

I migliori risultati sono però nella riduzione dei doms.

[Shade]

Molto interessante, nessuno ha info più approfondite in merito???

[manakei]

Sarà dura avere informazioni più approfondite e valide visto che l'hanno brevettato "prima che toccasse terra"

[Trokji]

Però interessante.. 400 g in 4 settimane non è poco..

[shevuzzo]

direi proprio di no..se si parla di massa pura magra..

[mistersalvo]

Effects of alfa-hydroxy-isocaproic acid on body composition, DOMS and performance in athletes

Background

Alfa-Hydroxy-isocaproic acid (HICA) is an end product of leucine metabolism in human tissues such as muscle and connective tissue. According to the clinical and experimental studies, HICA can be considered as an anti-catabolic substance. The present study investigated the effects of HICA supplementation on body composition, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and physical performance of athletes during a training period.
Methods

Fifteen healthy male soccer players (age 22.1+/-3.9 yr) volunteered for the 4-week double-blind study during an intensive training period. The subjects in the group HICA (n = 8) received 583 mg of sodium salt of HICA (corresponding 500 mg of HICA) mixed with liquid three times a day for 4 weeks, and those in the group PLACEBO (n = 7) received 650 mg of maltodextrin mixed with liquid three times a day for the same period. According to a weekly training schedule, they practiced soccer 3 - 4 times a week, had strength training 1 - 2 times a week, and had one soccer game during the study. The subjects were required to keep diaries on training, nutrition, and symptoms of DOMS. Body composition was evaluated with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after the 4-week period. Muscle strength and running velocity were measured with field tests.
Results

As compared to placebo, the HICA supplementation increased significantly body weight (p < 0.005) and whole lean body mass (p < 0.05) while fat mass remained constant. The lean body mass of lower extremities increased by 400 g in HICA but decreased by 150 g in PLACEBO during the study. This difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.01). The HICA supplementation decreased the whole body DOMS symptoms in the 4th week of the treatment (p < 0.05) when compared to placebo. Muscle strength and running velocity did not differ between the groups.
Conclusion

Already a 4-week HICA supplementation of 1.5 g a day leads to small increases in muscle mass during an intensive training period in soccer athletes.