Detox & Grow with L-Methionine
A Fundamental Nutrient for Detoxification & Growth
Detoxification is a major concern for many people given our modern exposure to so many environmental pollutants and food additives.
Often, “detoxing” focuses on fasting, juices, herbal remedies, and vitamins.
Many detox protocols incorporate protein restriction.
Ironically, the amino acids found in protein are exactly what is needed for protein turnover - repairing and replacing damaged or abnormal tissue - and without certain essential amino acids, detoxification and immunity is impaired.
L-Methionine is one such essential amino acid.
And while methionine is crucial for detoxification and immunity, it also plays fundamental roles for building muscle and strength and, like L-Leucine, can predict protein quality.
Detoxification
Methionine has several critical functions for detoxification.
First, as a precursor for glutathione. In the liver, methionine is readily converted to glutathione.
Glutathione is an extraordinary antioxidant, sometimes called the mother of antioxidants. Why? Because glutathione can: (1,2)
regenerate vitamin C and vitamin E
build “phytochelatins” - molecules used to detoxify heavy metals such as cadmium
Act as an antioxidant by itself, and it does so more effectively than many other antioxidants, largely because the oxidized form of glutathione is stable and can be recycled
Glutathione deserves an article on its own, but the ability of methionine to increase cysteine levels and concurrently increase glutathione levels is of unrivaled importance.
Aside from glutathione, methionine is precursor to numerous molecules that regulate inflammation and immunity, such as
Taurine: a cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory antioxidant that diminishes superoxide production by mitochondria, as well as other promoters of oxidative stress; taurine is also used in bile acids from the liver directly for detoxification (3)
L-Carnitine: necessary for energy production and fatty acid metabolism, beneficial for many neurological illnesses and neuropathies, and regulates inflammation (4)
Muscle & Strength
L-Carnitine itself is studied for its ability to enhance protein synthesis and prevent protein breakdown, preserving skeletal muscle mass.
But methionine does not stop there - it is also a precursor to creatine, one of the most extensively studied molecules for enhancing muscle size and strength that exists.
Creatine also touts many cognitive, neurological, and digestive benefits (5,6). This molecule certainly deserves an article of its own.
Most pertinent perhaps is creatine’s role in energy production. Creatine is used as a chief component to regenerate ATP-PC, the primary energy substrate used in exercises that require maximal power and/or strength.
Besides producing so many key molecules in our body, methionine itself is an essential amino acid necessary for building muscle and suboptimal levels will hinder gains in muscle and strength.
Summary
L-Methionine is a major player for detoxification, immunity, muscle, and strength.
When considering the next detoxification diet, one might consider the foundational role methionine plays in these functions and ensure optimal intake.
For the strength athlete, as a precursor to creatine and carnitine, the effects of optimizing methionine on performance must be recognized. Furthermore, as an essential amino acid, suboptimal intake will be a limiting factor to growth and development.
While this article does not discuss isolated supplementation of methionine, nor would I recommend or personally use methionine alone as a dietary supplement, ensuring optimal dietary intake is necessary and I use this amino acid as part of a complete amino acid blend peri-workout.
As always, I hope you found this valuable, and I welcome your questions and comments.
In strength,
Daniel J. Furtado, CPT, LMT, Owner of Honor Strength
www.honorstrength.com
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References
The role of methionine on metabolism, oxidative stress, and diseases
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5933890/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9827390/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34234088/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8145094/