Beta hydroxy beta methylbutyrate hmb is a by product or metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine hmb is produced in our body from the proteins in our diet and is also consumed in small amounts from the foods we eat however only a small amount roughly 5 of the leucine you eat is converted into hmb for the production of hmb to reach optimal gram quantities per day youll need 20 50 grams of leucine consequently getting enough hmb from your diet alone is virtually impossible rese