Why Creatine and HMB Work Better Together: The Science Behind Animal Creatine HMB+

When it comes to muscle building supplements, few combinations have been as extensively studied as creatine monohydrate and HMB. While each ingredient delivers impressive results on its own, groundbreaking research shows that when combined, they create something even more powerful… true synergy that delivers results neither ingredient can achieve alone.

Research shows creatine + HMB work better together than apart. Studies demonstrate 67% greater muscle growth and 680% improvement in testosterone-to-cortisol ratio when combined. Animal Creatine HMB+ leverages this synergy with clinical doses of both.

Animal Creatine HMB+ isn’t just another supplement throwing together popular ingredients. It’s a scientifically-backed formula that leverages decades of research showing how creatine and HMB work through completely different mechanisms to enhance muscle growth, strength, and recovery.

The Synergies of Animal Creatine HMB+

We’ve already covered the comprehensive benefits of Animal Creatine HMB+ and its premium myHMB® formulation, but today, we’re diving deeper into the specific research that shows why combining these ingredients is superior to using either one alone. Understanding how they complement each other so perfectly can be the difference between good gains and exceptional ones.

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The Research That Changed Everything: Creatine + HMB Synergy Studies

Two landmark studies have definitively proven that creatine and HMB work better together than apart, and the results are nothing short of remarkable.

1. Study 1: The Foundation – Jówko et al. (2001)

   

   In terms of lean body mass, Creatine + HMB beat the sum of creatine and HMB separately^[1] — that’s true synergy!

   The first breakthrough came from a carefully controlled study published in Nutrition that examined exactly what happens when you combine creatine with HMB.^[1]

   This double-blind, placebo-controlled study followed 40 male subjects through a 3-week resistance training program, dividing them into four groups:

   • Placebo group
   • Creatine only (20g loading, then 10g maintenance)
   • HMB only (3g daily)
   • Creatine + HMB combined

   The Results Were Stunning

   When researchers measured lean body mass gains, they discovered something extraordinary:

   • Placebo group: +0.85kg lean mass gain
   • Creatine alone: +1.77kg lean mass gain
   • HMB alone: +1.24kg lean mass gain
   • Creatine + HMB: +2.39kg lean mass gain
   

   For strength, Creatine + HMB performed better than creatine and HMB separately,^[1] but not more than each separately like with lean body mass. Still extremely impressive!

   The combination group didn’t just add the individual effects together – they achieved 67% greater muscle growth than expected if the ingredients simply worked independently.^[1]

   Strength Gains Told the Same Story

   Across all exercises measured, the strength increases were equally impressive:

   • HMB alone: +37.5kg total strength increase above placebo
   • Creatine alone: +39.1kg total strength increase above placebo
   • Creatine + HMB: +51.9kg total strength increase above placebo

   The researchers concluded that “creatine and HMB increase lean body mass and strength in an additive manner,” confirming that the ingredients work through distinct mechanisms to enhance each other’s effects.

2. Study 2: Elite Athletes Confirm the Benefits – Fernández-Landa et al. (2020)

   Twenty years later, Spanish researchers took the investigation further with elite endurance athletes, publishing their findings in two prestigious journals: Nutrients and Biomolecules.^[2][3]

   This comprehensive 10-week study with 28 elite traditional rowers (average VO2 max of 59.92 mL/min/kg) using the same dosing approach (3g HMB plus approximately 3g creatine daily) revealed even more dramatic synergistic effects that went far beyond simple addition.

   Quantified Synergistic Effects on Hormones

   

   Creatine + HMB significantly increases power output more than each separately – especially at the 8 mmol/L (W8) blood lactate level.^[2]

   What makes this study revolutionary is that researchers actually calculated the synergistic effects using mathematical models. They compared what would happen if you simply added the individual effects together versus what actually occurred with the combination:

   Testosterone Response:

   • Expected if simply additive: CrM group effect + HMB group effect = -37.89%
   • Actual combination result: -63.85%
   • Synergistic benefit: 67% greater testosterone response than predicted

   Testosterone-to-Cortisol Ratio:

   • Expected if simply additive: CrM group effect + HMB group effect = 57.68%
   • Actual combination result: +680%
   • Synergistic benefit: More than 10-fold greater improvement than expected

   Cortisol Response (Antagonistic Effect):

   • Expected if simply additive: CrM group effect + HMB group effect = 389.99%
   • Actual combination result: 131.55%
   • Antagonistic benefit: 66% reduction in cortisol elevation compared to individual effects

   Performance Synergy in Elite Athletes

   The aerobic performance testing revealed similarly dramatic synergistic improvements that significantly outperformed what individual supplementation could achieve:

   

   The Creatine + HMB group increased testosterone so significantly that it basically “corrected” for the increase in cortisol,^[3] which is tough to keep down with this level of training.

   • Anaerobic threshold power: Combination group showed improvements that exceeded the mathematical sum of individual effects
   • 4mmol lactate threshold: Synergistic effects were clearly demonstrated
   • 8mmol lactate threshold: Combined supplementation delivered performance gains beyond simple addition

   Most importantly, these were elite athletes already performing at the highest levels. The fact that the combination could produce measurable synergistic benefits in such a trained population speaks volumes about the power of this approach.

   Why Elite Athletes Matter for This Research

   The researchers noted something critical: while individual supplementation (creatine or HMB alone) produced mixed results in these elite athletes, the combination consistently delivered significant benefits. This suggests that the synergistic mechanisms become even more important as training status increases.

   As the study authors concluded:

   “The combination of CrM plus HMB showed an increase in testosterone and T/C compared with the other groups after 10 weeks of supplementation. Moreover, this combination presented a synergistic effect on testosterone and T/C and an antagonistic effect on cortisol compared with the sum of individual or isolated supplementation.”^[3]

Why This Synergy Occurs: Different Mechanisms, Amplified Results

The reason creatine and HMB work so well together is thanks to their completely different mechanisms of action, which the research has now clearly documented:

Animal Creatine HMB+ combines 5g creatine monohydrate with 3g myHMB for superior results. Research shows this duo delivers 67% more muscle growth and 38% more strength than creatine alone. Plus vitamin D3 and electrolytes for complete performance support.

Creatine’s Primary Mechanisms:

• Increases phosphocreatine stores for rapid ATP regeneration
• Enhances cellular hydration and volumization through the creatine-phosphocreatine shuttle system
• May specifically increase myosin heavy chain synthesis
• Supports glycogen storage enhancement

HMB’s Primary Mechanisms:

• Reduces muscle protein breakdown through anti-catabolic pathways
• Provides building blocks for cellular membrane repair
• Enhances mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1α gene expression
• Supports protein synthesis via IGF-1 and mTOR pathway activation

The Synergistic Effect: Because they target different aspects of muscle growth and recovery, with creatine focusing on energy systems and cellular volumization while HMB targets protein metabolism and cellular repair, combining them creates a more well-rounded approach that addresses both the anabolic (building) and anti-catabolic (preservation) sides of muscle development.

The Fernández-Landa study specifically noted: “Although the effects of supplements are usually investigated in isolation, it is very common to combine different ergogenic aids in the sports field in order to achieve maximum performance. In this sense, it could be considered that the effect of this combination might be better than individual intake.”^[3]

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Conclusion: Science-Backed Synergy for Superior Results

Animal brings THE CAGE Back to The Arnold Expo, and Mike and Ben record a podcast with Jason Budsock and Rudy Checo to celebrate the start of the weekend.

The research is clear: creatine and HMB deliver superior results when combined compared to either ingredient alone. From the groundbreaking 2001 study showing 67% greater muscle growth to the 2020 research demonstrating quantified synergistic effects on hormones (including a remarkable 680% improvement in testosterone-to-cortisol ratio), the scientific evidence supports what Animal has formulated in Creatine HMB+.

This isn’t about throwing popular ingredients together and hoping for the best. It’s about understanding how different mechanisms can work in harmony to create something mathematically greater than the sum of its parts. The fact that these synergistic effects were demonstrated in elite athletes already performing at the highest levels makes the findings even more remarkable.

Animal Creatine HMB+ harnesses this synergy with clinical doses of both ingredients (5g creatine monohydrate and 3g myHMB®), enhanced with vitamin D3 for optimal HMB utilization and a comprehensive electrolyte blend for maximum absorption and performance.

For the complete breakdown of Animal Creatine HMB+’s formula, including the premium myHMB® form and supporting ingredients, check out our comprehensive Animal Creatine HMB+ review.

Whether you’re training in The Cage like the athletes we met during our 2024 Arnold podcast or pursuing your own strength goals, the combination of creatine and HMB represents one of the most scientifically validated approaches to maximizing muscle growth and performance. The mathematics of synergy are on your side.

There’s no need to settle for single-ingredient solutions when science has shown us the power of strategic combinations. Make sure you’re signed up for our Animal news alerts below to stay updated on the latest from Universal Nutrition: