Dietary Methionine Restriction Increases Fat Oxidation in Obese Adults with Metabolic Syndrome

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 96; no. 5; pp. E836 - E840
• Main Authors: Plaisance, Eric P., Greenway, Frank L., Boudreau, Anik, Hill, Kasey L., Johnson, William D., Krajcik, Rozlyn A., Perrone, Carmen E., Orentreich, Norman, Cefalu, William T., Gettys, Thomas W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.05.2011; Copyright by The Endocrine Society; Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Body weight loss; Cohort Studies; Cystine - blood; Diet; Diet (weight control); Dietary Fats - metabolism; Dietary intake; Double-Blind Method; Energy cost; Energy expenditure; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Fats - metabolism; Female; Flexibility; Glucose - metabolism; Hormones; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance - physiology; JCEM Online: Brief Reports; Kinetics; Lipids; Liver - metabolism; Male; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Methionine; Methionine - blood; Methionine - pharmacology; Middle Aged; Nutrient deficiency; Obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Waist Circumference - physiology; Weight control
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-2493

Objective:In preclinical reports, restriction of dietary methionine intake was shown to enhance metabolic flexibility, improve lipid profiles, and reduce fat deposition. The present report is the outcome of a “proof of concept” study to evaluate the efficacy of dietary methionine restriction (MR) in humans with metabolic syndrome.Methods:Twenty-six obese subjects (six male and 20 female) meeting criteria for metabolic syndrome were randomized to a diet restricted to 2 mg methionine/kg body weight per day and were provided capsules containing either placebo (n = 12) or 33 mg methionine/kg body weight per day (n = 14). Energy expenditure, body composition, insulin sensitivity, and biomarkers of metabolic syndrome were measured before and after 16 wk on the respective diets.Results:Insulin sensitivity and biomarkers of metabolic syndrome improved comparably in both dietary groups. Rates of energy expenditure were unaffected by the diets, but dietary MR produced a significant increase in fat oxidation (MR, 12.1 ± 6.0% increase; control, 8.1 ± 3.3% decrease) and reduction in intrahepatic lipid content (MR liver/spleen attenuation ratio, 8.1 ± 3.3% increase; control ratio, 2.2 ± 2.1% increase) that was independent of the comparable reduction in weight and adiposity that occurred in both groups.Conclusions:Sixteen weeks of dietary MR in subjects with metabolic syndrome produced a shift in fuel oxidation that was independent of the weight loss, decreased adiposity, and improved insulin sensitivity that was common to both diets.