During the overreaching cycle , HMB-FA attenuated increases in CK ( -6 91 vs. 277 229 IU/l , p < 0.001 ) and cortisol ( -0.2 2.9 vs. 4.5 1.7 g/dl , p < 0.003 ) in the HMB-FA - and placebo-supplemented groups , respectively .