What is it about?
Methionine-restriction may extend life-span but low levels may also increase risk of some health concerns. Using a limited methionine diet, sufficient to maintain plasma methionine but activate a scavenging system, we demonstrated biomarkers indicating similar benefits without increasing health risks.
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Why is it important?
Our findings indicate that the benefits of reduced dietary methionine may not require reduced plasma methionine, or reduced Sulphur amino acid intake but the activation of adaptations to support access to methionine, including the scavenging pathway.
Perspectives
The primary objective of the work was to ensure no health risks were associated with dietary methionine fed at a level we estimated to meet the dogs requirement but much lower than that used in conventional diets. The dietary sulphur amino acid content was maintained and so we were surprised and excited to see that some metabolites responding to the diet change had been reported in the "lifespan" literature. It would seem that reducing plasma methionine (used to demonstrate "methionine restriction") nor reducing total S amino acid content are essential to deliver "life-span associated" changes in metabolism. The work fits nicely with other reports, that suggest activation of the scavenging pathway may initiate adaptations that support lifespan.
Dr David Allaway
Mars Inc
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Adaptations Supporting Plasma Methionine on a Limited-Methionine, High-Cystine Diet Alter the Canine Plasma Metabolome Consistent with Interventions that Extend Life Span in Other Species, Journal of Nutrition, July 2021, Oxford University Press (OUP),
DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab204.
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