Methionine and Cysteine Restriction in Humans

University of Oslo

Status: Completed

Conditions: Overweight

Treatments: Behavioral: Moderate met/cys diet; Behavioral: High met/cys diet; Behavioral: Low met/cys diet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03629392

239948-B

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of methionine and cysteine restriction on energy and macronutrient metabolism in overweight human subjects

Full description

The sulfur-containing amino acid methionine and its downstream metabolite cysteine has been associated with fat mass in animal studies and human observational studies. Some of the proposed mechanisms include an association with lipogenesis, insulin sensitivity and disrupted energy metabolism.

The overall aim of this project is to evaluate the effects of a diet low in methionine and cysteine on markers of lipids, amino acids, glucose and other biomarkers related to energy metabolism, including transcriptomic and protein expression data from adipose tissue and lymphocytes. Overweight and obese but otherwise healthy volunteers will be randomized to receive a diet either low, moderate or high in methionine and cysteine concentrations for 1 week.

This is a pilot study that may be considered an extension of NCT02647970. In addition to the primary and secondary outcomes we will evaluate the feasibility of the intervention and procedures.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Body mass index of 25-35 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• High physical activity
• Smoking
• Drugs
• Chronic disease
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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19 participants in 3 patient groups

Low met/cys diet

Experimental group

Description:

Dietary intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: Low met/cys diet

Moderate met/cys diet

Experimental group

Description:

Dietary intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: Moderate met/cys diet

High met/cys diet

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dietary intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: High met/cys diet