Hypolipidemic effects of S-methylmethionine (vitamin U) using various experimental procedures.
The hypolipidemic and anti-atheromatous effect of S-methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (Vitamin U, MMSC) were investigated using various experimental procedures. In the results, orally administered MMSC markedly normalized dietary-induced hyperlipidemia in rats and rabbits, demonstrating the lowering effects on plasma total cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein and phospholipids, and no appreciable effect on plasma triglycerides. In normolipidemic and a surfactant-induced hyperlipidemic rats, MMSC did not decrease plasma lipids level, nor MMSC-affected plasma lipoprotein lipase and liver catalase activities. In contrast, clofibrate showed little or no effect on plasma lipids level of dietary-induced hyperlipidemic rats, with exception of plasma triglycerides, whereas clofibrate lowered plasma lipids level in normolipidemic and surfactant-induced hyperlipidemic rats, and enhanced liver catalase activity. From the results, the lipids lowering effects of MMSC using various procedures were clearly differentiated from those of clofibrate. Additionally, the anti-atheromatous effect of MMSC was histopathologically demonstrated in dietary-induced ahteromatous rabbits. A unique hypolipidemic effect of MMSC is discussed from therapeutic viewpoint.
D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D014814:Vitamin U / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D014814:Vitamin U; D002374:Catalase; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase; D002994:Clofibrate