Sulfur amino acids, metabolic health and beyond: Recent advances, translational implications, and future research considerations.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing preclinical mechanisms and human observational/intervention literature
PubMed 41202947 · doi:10.1016/j.ab.2025.116008
What was done
Narrative review summarizing experimental animal models and human data regarding dietary sulfur amino acid restriction (SAAR; restricting methionine and cysteine) on metabolic health, aging, cognition, microbiome composition, and disease risk.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data. In animal models, SAAR reduces GH/IGF-1 signaling, total and regional adiposity, oxidative stress, and inflammation, while improving insulin sensitivity and cognition. Human observational studies associate higher plasma total cysteine and dietary sulfur amino acid intake with increased adiposity, insulin resistance, diabetes incidence, and cardiovascular mortality. Human dietary intervention trials have achieved only partial success in translating these benefits.
Why it matters
This review highlights the mechanistic pathways linking dietary sulfur amino acids to metabolic regulation and identifies critical translational gaps between preclinical models and human clinical interventions.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search protocol, quality assessment, and quantitative synthesis. Most mechanistic and longevity outcomes are restricted to animal models, human data are primarily observational, and practical feasibility challenges in human dietary interventions remain unresolved.
Cited by
- supports Dietary proteins and specific amino acids such as methionine and cysteine regulate circulating IGF-1 levels in mammals.