For anyone that has accidentally skipped lunch while on the go, it is obvious that hunger is no fun. However, fasting has become an increasingly common "longevity hack."
But what if there was a way to mimic the effects of fasting—without the pain of hunger pangs?
Research preliminary suggests that restricting an Amino Acid, Methionine, may do just that.
In this article, we will cover the research on Methionine, how it relates to fasting and longevity, and what a low-Methionine diet looks like.
Methionine Restriction and Longevity: The Science
Fasting and caloric restriction, while extremely difficult, has become increasingly popular in the anti-aging world primarily because it stimulates autophagy: the clean up or repair of cells (Bagherniya et al., 2018). Autophagy plays a central role in the regulation of lifespan, and promising research suggests increasing autophagy is critical to lifespan extension (Hansen, Rubinsztein & Walker, 2018; Nakamura & Yoshimori, 2018). Accordingly, human studies on fasting have found that it relates to positive health outcomes such as improved insulin sensitivity, and lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight (de Cabo & Mattson, 2019; Mattson, Longo, & Harvie, 2017).
However, despite the potential benefits of fasting, in practice, it is really difficult to do as many people experience fatigue, difficulties in concentration, and painful stomach pangs.
Fortunately, research on Methionine, one of the nine amino acids, suggests that there may be another way to reap the benefits of autophagy without fasting. Studies of Methionine Restriction (MetR) have shown that via low-Methionine diets may have fasting-mimicking effects (e.g., see Kosamoto et al., 2023). Some research shows that methionine restriction may be able to extend lifespan by activating pathways that reduce oxidative stress and enhance cellular stress resistance (Orentreich et al., 1993; Sanchez-Roman & Barja, 2013). Similar to fasting, these benefits are thought to be brought by enhanced autophagy (Sutter et al., 2013), reduced inflammation (Sharma et al., 2019), and alterations in sulfur amino acid metabolism (Dong, Sinha, & Richie, 2018).
In fact, scientists are now beginning to investigate the effects of Methionine restriction on cancer growth. Although more research is needed, some studies suggest that methionine restriction may inhibit cancer cell growth and may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy (Cavuoto & Fenech, 2020; Wanders, Hobsonm & Ji, 2020).
Where is Methionine Found?
You can find a list of high-methionine foods here. In general, plant proteins such as pea protein tend to be lower in Methionine (Ge et al., 2020), while animal proteins tend to be higher in Methionine.
So if you decide to forgo fasting in favor of a plant-protein snack, check out our recipes library here!
Want to read more? Check out the studies we used to write this article below!
References
Kohlmeier, M (2015).Methionine. Nutrient Metabolism: Structures, Functions, and Genes. 338-348.
DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This approach is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This is intended for educational and informative purpose only and not intended to serve as medical or professional advice. You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting a change in diet or nutrition plan.
