title: Long-term dietary supplementation with cystathionine improves tissue glutathione in ageing rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ageing is associated with decrease in tissue glutathione that can be reduced by food fortification with the amino acid cysteine. However, cysteine is not stable in solution and generates bad taste. Cystathionine, the direct precursor of cysteine, could be a valuable alternative.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether long-term dietary supplementation with cystathionine induces an increase in glutathione pools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aged rats (20.5-month-old) were fed ad libitum during 29 weeks with either a cystathionine-supplemented diet (7.3 g/kg, n = 90 rats) or a control iso-nitrogenous alanine-supplemented diet (2.9 g/kg, n = 90 rats).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cystathionine was detected in the plasma of the cystathionine-supplemented rats but not in the control alanine-supplemented rats. Cystathionine increased glutathione concentrations in liver, small intestine and gastrocnemius muscle (P < 0.03). No adverse effect was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cystathionine supplementation being able to increase moderately glutathione in healthy old rats could be considered as a candidate for nutritional supports aiming to revert the stronger glutathione depletions occurring in unhealthy elderly.
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, BP 10448, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.|INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pouget
authors.affiliation: Department of Taste and Behavioural Sciences, Nestlé Research Center, CH-10000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perrot
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, BP 10448, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.|INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health, Nestlé Research Center, 10000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vuichoud
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, BP 10448, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.|INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dardevet
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health, Nestlé Research Center, 10000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health, Nestlé Research Center, 10000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Breuillé
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, BP 10448, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Isabelle.Papet@clermont.inra.fr.|INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Isabelle.Papet@clermont.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papet
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003540:Cystathionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D003540:Cystathionine; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Acute phase proteins; Ageing; Cystathionine; Glutathione; Rat