title: Dietary methionine restriction increases fat oxidation in obese adults with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, USA.
authors.forename: Eric P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Plaisance
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Greenway
authors.forename: Anik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.forename: Kasey L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Rozlyn A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Krajcik
authors.forename: Carmen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orentreich
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Cefalu
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gettys
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003553:Cystine / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005223:Fats; D003553:Cystine; D008715:Methionine; D005947:Glucose