Sarcopenia is a common disease in the elderly, which increases the risks of falls, disability, and all-causes mortality in them. β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), as a metabolite of leucine, has been proven to increase muscle protein synthesis and decrease muscle breakdown, and shows anti-inflammatory effect. As a kind of nutritional supplement for sarcopenia, HMB has recently been reported to improve muscle mass, muscle strength and body function to some extent. This review summarized the recent clinical researches of HMB for sarcopenia.