You may not have heard of "methionine," but it exists in protein-rich foods you eat daily—eggs, meat, nuts, fish, milk, etc. It is an essential nutrient for the human body. We often say to eat more high-quality protein, but studies have found that we should eat less methionine! Methionine restriction (MetR) can help delay aging and reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
I. What Is Methionine?
Methionine is an "essential amino acid" that the human body must obtain from food. It is particularly abundant in meat, eggs, dairy, fish, and nuts. Its key roles include helping the body synthesize proteins, maintaining mitochondrial (cell "energy factory") function, and producing a substance called "SAM" (which adds "methyl tags" to DNA to regulate genes).
II. What Is Methionine Restriction (MetR)?
Methionine restriction (MetR) is an intervention that extends lifespan across species and improves various age-related diseases (such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairments). It works through mechanisms such as downregulating IGF-1, upregulating FGF-21, and activating autophagy.
III. Why Does Eating Less Methionine (MetR) Promote Anti-Aging?
Studies have found that deliberately reducing methionine intake can:
Extend animal lifespan: From nematodes and fruit flies to mice, reduced methionine intake lengthens lifespan and reduces age-related diseases.
Improve physical condition: Elderly mice that started MetR later in life showed improved motor coordination, reduced frailty, and protected lung function. In humans, short-term (up to 16 weeks) MetR helps obese or metabolically impaired individuals burn more fat, lose weight, reduce fatty liver, and lower levels of the "pro-aging hormone" IGF-1 in the blood.
Reduce age-related disease risk: Population studies show that people with high methionine intake are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even memory decline. Conversely, reduced intake lowers these risks.
IV. How to Practice Methionine Restriction (MetR) Safely and Scientifically?
1. Define a "Safe Amount"—Avoid Extreme or Long-Term Restriction
Methionine is essential, so "eating less" does not mean "eating none." It must be kept within an effective and safe range. Experiments show: Anti-aging and metabolic benefits are observed when dietary methionine accounts for less than 0.25% of body weight. Below this ratio, side effects such as muscle loss, decreased bone density, and malnutrition may occur.
2. Switch from "Long-Term Restriction" to "Intermittent Restriction"
Scientists found that "restricting methionine for 3 days a week and eating normally for the other 4 (intermittent MetR)" avoids muscle loss and bone density reduction caused by prolonged restriction.
3. Modify Foods or Use Tools to Aid Methionine Digestion
Food modification: Mildly oxidize casein in milk to destroy methionine without damaging other amino acids.
Use "tools": Introduce engineered bacteria into the gut to break down methionine and prevent absorption. For example, the engineered bacterium "SYNB1353" breaks down methionine into harmless substances in the intestines after ingestion.
4. Conduct Monitoring to Avoid Over-Restriction
Test "plasma methionine" and "urinary sulfate" to assess bodily methionine levels.
Test "bone density" and "muscle mass" to prevent side effects like muscle loss and osteoporosis.
Special populations: Elderly individuals and those with osteoporosis are not suitable for long-term strict MetR. The combination of "intermittent MetR + selenium supplementation" is recommended to achieve anti-aging effects while protecting bones.
Summary
The core of "safely and scientifically reducing methionine" is not "forced starvation" but "smart control"—either precisely regulate dosage and frequency, use tools to help the body "digest" methionine, or simulate effects with other methods. At the same time, monitoring is essential to ensure both anti-aging benefits and safety.
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