A sports supplement originally developed for humans, may also benefit young chickens.

Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, or HMB, is a nutritional sports supplement that has had positive effects on the immune system in chicks.

The supplement, marketed by Metabolic Technologies Inc. (MTI), located in the Iowa State University Research Park, caught national attention this year when university studies showed it could enhance the positive effects of intense exercise, allowing fitness enthusiasts to boost gains in lean body mass and strength, while at the same time accelerating reductions in body fat.

Research performed by Dr. Steven Nissen, professor of animal science at ISU and the founder of MTI, has shown that HMB decreased early chick mortality. This may be good news for the poultry industry.

Dr. John Fuller, Jr., director of animal research at MTI, has been awarded a $190,000 United States Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovative Research Grant to continue research started by Nissen on HMB’s effects on poultry.

The multi-site study, led by Fuller and Nissen, will begin in September and will continue for 2 years. Research will be conducted at ISU, North Carolina State University and Colorado Quality Research, a private research company in Colorado. The project is designed to introduce HMB into the poultry industry.

“Part of it will be working with young chickens again,” Fuller said. “We’ll look at immune function and response to systemic type infection.”

He said some research will be done on full grown chickens, looking at safety and efficacy.

“In meat animals we are mostly interested in if it will be at above normal levels in the meat,” Fuller said.

It is hoped that the results of the research will provide a useful product for the poultry industry.

Fuller said HMB acts like a nutrient when chicks are first born and there is not enough of it in the feed.

“If HMB decreases mortality it could eventually lead to decreased antibiotic use in feed,” Fuller said. “If it can show decreased mortality it will be a benefit to the industry.”

HMB was discovered in the early ’80s, Fuller said, and most of the uses of the supplement have been patented by Dr. Nissen.

HMB is sold by several companies over-the-counter. It occurs naturally in humans in small amounts, Fuller said.