17 March 2022Diabetes and Obesity, Eggs, Gut Bacteria, Whole Food Plant Based Diets

Methionine Dependent Cancers

Homocysteine is a non-protein amino acid. It is synthesized in the body from methionine, which is a sulfur containing amino-acid. Methionine is much more prevalent in animal products than plant products. Rotten eggs smell the way they do because the sulfur produces a number of sulfur containing gases including hydrogen sulfide— rotten egg gas.

A high level is of homocysteine is associated with an increased risk for chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. ¹ ~ ²

Many human cancer cell and primary tumors have a requirement for methionine, an essential amino acid. ³

A common feature of some cancers is the absolute requirement for methionine, a phenomenon known as ‘methionine dependence’. Therefore, restriction of methionine may be a useful strategy in limiting cancer growth. Methionine restriction may also prolong a healthy life-span.

This information has been known since at least 1974.

In 1974, a paper originating from the University of California opened with the following paragraph.

In tissue cultures of normal adult and malignant mammalian cells, homocystine has been substituted for methionine in a medium rich in folic acid and cyanocobalamin. Normal adult cells thrive. Three highly malignant cell types from three different species, including man, die. ⁴

The paper continued with,

In several lines of malignant cells we have observed an inability of the cells to survive and grow when methionine is replaced in the medium with homocysteine. However, normal adult cell lines derived from mice, rats, and humans survive and grow well with this substitution. The apparent absolute dependence of the malignant cells on preformed methionine is of considerable theoretical interest but may also be of practical importance because it may offer another avenue for treating neoplastic disease.

A 2009 paper states,

Plant proteins – especially those derived from legumes or nuts – tend to be lower in methionine than animal proteins.

Whole-food vegan diets that moderate bean and soy intake, while including ample amounts of fruit and wine or beer, can be quite low in methionine, while supplying abundant nutrition for health (assuming concurrent B12 supplementation).

Furthermore, low-fat vegan diets, coupled with exercise training, can be expected to promote longevity by decreasing systemic levels of insulin and free IGF-I; the latter effect would be amplified by methionine restriction. ⁵

A 2012 paper from CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, Adelaide (Australia) states,

Restriction of methionine may be an important strategy in cancer growth control particularly in cancers that exhibit dependence on methionine for survival and proliferation.

In humans, vegan diets, which can be low in methionine, may prove to be a useful nutritional strategy in cancer growth control. ⁶

Reference range for homocysteine is less than 12 µmol/L. An optimal level is probably 8 µmol/L or less.

Since animal foods contain about four times as much methionine compared with plant-based foods, the best way to restrict methionine is to consume a plant-based diet.

Last updated on Thursday 16 July 2026 at 12:03 by administrators

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Footnotes

Richmann, E. L., Kenfield, S. A., Stampfer, M. J., Giovannucci, E. L., Zeisel, S. H., Willett, W. C., & Chan, J. M. (2012). Choline intake and risk of lethal prostate cancer: Incidence and survival. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 96(4), 855–863.
Romano, K. A., Vivas, E. I., Amador-Noguez, D., & Rey, F. E. (2015). Intestinal Microbiota Composition Modulates Choline Bioavailability from Diet and Accumulation of the Proatherogenic Metabolite Trimethylamine- N -Oxide. MBio, 6(2), e02481-14.
Cellarier, E., Durando, X., Vasson, M., Farges, M., Demiden, A., Maurizis, J., Madelmont, J., & Chollet, P. (2003). Methionine dependency and cancer treatment. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 29 (6), 489–499.
Halpern, B. C., Clark, B. R., Hardy, D. N., Halpern, R. M., & Smith, R. A. (1974). The Effect of Replacement of Methionine by Homocystine on Survival of Malignant and Normal Adult Mammalian Cells in Culture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 71(4), 1133–1136.
McCarty, M. F. et al. (2009) The low-methionine content of vegan diets may make methionine restriction feasible as a life extension strategy. Medical Hypotheses. 72 (2), 125–128.
Cavuoto, P. & Fenech, M. F. (2012) A review of methionine dependency and the role of methionine restriction in cancer growth control and life-span extension. Cancer Treatment Review. 38 (6), 726–736.

Tags: agriculture alzheimers disease amino acids b12 cobalamin eggs homocysteine leafy greens methionine natural diet plant based diet wfpb diet whole food plant based diet

Methionine Dependent Cancers

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