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 gasses including hydrogen sulfide— rotten egg gas.
Methionine-free or methionine-deprived diet causes a regression of a variety of animal tumours.
A methionine restricted diet have shown inhibition of cancer growth and extension of a healthy life-span in animal studies. In humans, vegan diets, low in methionine, may prove to be a useful nutritional strategy in cancer growth control. 4
In 1974, a paper originating from the University of California opened with the following paragraph.
The paper continued with,
This concept has not received the attention that it deserves, even though some forty years later two studies still considered the concept viable.
The first paper originated from CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences in Adelaide, Australia.
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.
The second paper 2012 agrees, stating,
Reference range for homocysteine is less than 12 µmol / L. An optimal level is probably 8 µmol / L or less.
Last updated on Friday 2 December 2022 at 23:03 by administrators
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Reviews, 38(6), 726–736.
- Agrawal, V., Alpini, S. E., Stone, E. M., Frenkel, E. P., & Frankel, A. E. (2012). Targeting methionine auxotrophy in cancer: Discovery & exploration. Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 12(1), 53–61.