Methionine: Function, Food Sources and Side Effects

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Methionine is an amino acid that helps in the production of several important molecules that sustain human life. There are many ideas that should add methionine to the body, but to avoid unwanted effects, the supplement must follow specific indications.

1. What is Methionine?

Methionine is an essential amino acid (which the body cannot synthesize on its own), found in many proteins in food as well as in tissues and organs of the human body.
In addition to its role as a protein, it also has a number of other functions, especially the ability to convert it into a sulfur-containing molecule. These sulfur-containing molecules perform a variety of roles, including protecting tissues, editing DNA, and maintaining cell function.
These molecules must be made up of sulfur-containing amino acids, and only two amino acids meet the requirements, which are methionine and cysteine.
Cysteine the body can synthesize on its own, but methionine cannot, the body must absorb it from outside (food, supplements).
Methionine also plays another important role in making new proteins to replace old or damaged proteins.

2. Methionine-rich foods

Methionine, as mentioned above, cannot be synthesized by the body, but must be obtained from outside. Methionine-rich foods include meat, fish, and eggs.
About 8% of the amino acids in egg whites are methionine and cysteine. In chicken and beef it is about 5% and in dairy products it is 4%. Plant proteins also have methionine, but in lower amounts.

Methionin là gì — Lòng trắng trứng là một nguồn thực phẩm giàu methionine

3. The body's need for methionine

With a complete and balanced diet can provide adequate amounts of methionine needed for the body. The amount of methionine and cysteine needed to provide the body each day is 19 mg/kg for an adult.

4. Undesirable effects of methionine

To assess the body's response to methionine, researchers administered a single high dose to volunteers and observed the effects.
The dose tested with 6000 cases is 100 mg/kg, much higher than the usual intake. The results showed only a few side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, and changes in blood pressure.
Through the study, it was found that, even though the supplement was given at a very high concentration, it seems that methionine still does not have a serious effect on humans. And in fact it is almost impossible for the body to absorb such large amounts of methionine. Therefore, methionine is safe for humans.

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Articles refer to sources: webmd.com and healthline.com

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