Methionine is classified as an essential sulfur-containing amino acid with an unpleasant odor that cannot be produced by the body itself.
The source of the substance is dairy and other food products containing casein. In addition, there are drugs similar to natural methionine, usually used in sports nutrition. This aliphatic sulfur-containing amino acid plays an important role in protein synthesis and has fat-soluble properties, which allows it to prevent lipid deposition in the liver.
What is methionine for?
Methionine-based drugs are produced in tablets, which are prescribed to patients with liver pathologies - cirrhosis, intoxication, acute atrophy, toxic hepatitis. They may be prescribed for preventive purposes to reduce the increased load on the liver (for example, when taking medications that have a hepatotoxic effect).
Methionine for the liver is also used in the complex treatment of severe pathologies. Athletes use methionine and its analogues to improve and maintain performance. The use of amino acid preparations allows you to achieve better relief and fight fatty tissue deposits.
Reviews
Reviews about the medicine are usually left by bodybuilders and girls who are pregnant. The first take the medicine for two weeks in order to remove ammonia from the body, which is formed as a result of the breakdown of protein. The latter take the remedy if there are serious reasons for doing so.
Both groups note that despite the cheapness of the drug, it should be taken only according to indications, observing the required dosage. In this case, taking the medicine should be accompanied by vitamins.
Numerous reviews from doctors show that taking Methionine as prescribed by a doctor can improve the condition of a person who has been diagnosed with liver problems or atherosclerosis.
Many girls take this medicine to quickly lose weight. Doctors flatly prohibit taking Methionine for these purposes. The exception is those cases when the patient is forced to adhere to a diet or eat a small amount of protein-based food.
What foods contain methionine?
The amino acid methionine is found in all foods that contain protein. Meat and dairy products and eggs are especially rich in them, but the leader in its content is Brazil nut. This is the only plant product in which the content of this substance is higher than in meat. On average, 100 g of meat products or cheese completely covers the daily requirement.
Methionine in products. Photo: cont.ws
Storage
The drug should be kept away from small children and pets.
The medicine can be kept in a warm room, the temperature in which will not exceed 20 degrees, but it should not be below 15 either. In addition, Methionine should be kept in a dark room, away from droplets of water or direct sunlight.
If all recommendations are followed, Methionine can be stored for no more than five years. An expired product is not allowed for further use.
Indications for the use of methionine
The chemical formula of methionine is quite complex - it is one of the largest amino acids used in the human body.
Medical indications for the use of L-methionine
- Severe liver damage;
- Poisoning with toxic substances;
- Neutralization of side effects of drugs;
- Complex therapy of diabetes mellitus.
The substance is considered essential, so foods rich in methionine should be consumed regularly to avoid deficiency.
Methionine for athletes
Athletes take methionine tablets, strictly following the instructions for use. Taking medication is associated with the need to follow a diet, and the exclusion of a number of foods reduces the supply of essential amino acids. It is impossible to select a diet based on the table of methionine content in food without compromising athletic fitness. In addition, athletes have a higher need for methionine.
Methionine in bodybuilding
The instructions for using methionine in bodybuilding say that the medicine is used in different dosages depending on the stage. During muscle gain, the need for all nutrients, including essential amino acids, increases, and methionine will help compensate for this. At the drying stage, serious dietary restrictions are introduced, and the indications for taking methionine are to prevent its deficiency.
Methionine for weight loss
Methionine for weight loss is used to reduce the harm from dietary restrictions, because the supply of nutrients is reduced. Methionine also allows for better absorption of food, which allows you to eat less, activates the breakdown of fats and reduces the load on the liver. Thus, the task of L-methionine in this case is to provide a more reliable result and reduce possible negative effects. The results of taking it appear slowly but reliably.
What does it help with beauty?
The medicine methionine is used not only to improve the figure, but also to improve overall appearance. The amino acid enters into reactions that occur in the skin and hair, and allows you to normalize sebum production, pore diameter, accelerate the healing of minor injuries and improve the condition of the epidermis, hair and nails. In the form of a drug or products that contain methionine, it is prescribed at any age to maintain the beauty and health of the skin.
The product is also useful for those who have skin problems due to liver disease. In this case, methionine for hair and skin treats not only the consequence, but also the cause of the pathology.
special instructions
Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery
No effects on psychomotor reactions were detected.
Pregnancy and lactation
Methionine is approved for use during pregnancy, but the dosage of the drug should not be exceeded in any case. The medication is more effective when combined with folic acid.
Use in childhood
For children under six years of age, it is prohibited to use the drug in the form of capsules and tablets (syrup can only be used if recommended by a doctor).
For impaired renal function
Chronic kidney diseases and pathologies in the acute stage may be contraindications for the use of the drug (take with caution).
For liver dysfunction
Hepatic encephalopathy and failure, as well as viral hepatitis are among the contraindications for taking Methionine (if this rule is ignored, the risk of complications and deterioration in general health increases).
Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies
Their pharmacies sell them over-the-counter.
Compound
This amino acid is classified as essential, i.e. cannot be synthesized in the body from other sources. The biological significance of methionine is varied - it participates in reactions to neutralize toxic substances in the liver, has a positive effect on the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain, including norepinephrine, which improves mood, affects the synthesis of phospholipids, blood cholesterol levels and fat deposition.
The amino acid has two spatial isomers - L- and D-methionine. Only the L-isomer has biological significance. The versatile action allows methionine to be used in sports as an aid. The amino acid reduces the toxic effect of drugs that have a harmful effect on the liver, therefore it is used during the course of treatment with them.
Structural formula of methionine. Photo: yandex.ru
In oncology, PET CT is used with methionine, a radioactive carbon isotope, which is used to detect tumors of the nervous tissue. The drug is administered intravenously, wait about half an hour, after which a CT scan is performed. Areas containing methionine, marked with radioactive carbon, will stand out clearly against the general background. This substance will not be present in healthy tissues.
Instructions for use of methionine
Methionine for adults
The drug methionine is available in tablets, each pack contains a detailed description of the drug, indications and rules of use. The standard dosage is 1-2 tablets 3 times a day before meals. The exact dose depends on body weight. If you are overweight, an additional dose may be required. Adult patients are prescribed a complex of succinic acid, meglumine, inosine, methionine and nicotinamide for detoxification in case of poisoning.
Instructions on how to take methionine for bodybuilding appeared based on observations of the results of treatment of liver diseases. The same observations made it possible to notice the positive effect of the amino acid on the breakdown of adipose tissue and begin its use for weight loss. For allergies, it is useful to use methionine to reduce histamine as an aid.
When performing PET with methionine, it is administered intravenously, the dosage is calculated by the doctor. To avoid adverse reactions, you must follow the preparation rules. In particular, you should limit those foods that contain methionine to avoid an overdose. Eating before the examination does not affect the result, but the amount of liquid is limited.
Methionine for pregnant women
Expectant mothers have an increased need to process toxic compounds - this is why methionine is prescribed during pregnancy. The product allows you to improve liver function under conditions of increased stress, increase the efficiency of absorption of beneficial microelements from food, and avoid excess fat accumulation. According to reviews, methionine also has a beneficial effect on the appearance of a pregnant woman, and this is the reason why many expectant mothers worry. In the fetus, the amino acid is important for the formation of the nervous system. But before taking methionine, you should definitely consult a doctor - an overdose is very dangerous.
Price
The instructions show the average cost for the country.
The cost of a medicine is based on a number of external factors, which include:
- Markup for each individual pharmacy;
- Purchase cost;
- Country/city of sale of goods;
- The costs incurred by a company when transporting goods from one point to another.
The price can also vary significantly in different countries. This is primarily due to the exchange rate and currency.
Russia
In Russia, the cost of the medicine Methionine ranges from 25 to 34 rubles.
Ukraine
For the drug Methionine you need to pay 6.8 hryvnia.
Video on the topic: Essential amino acids. Methionine
Side effects
- Nausea and vomiting (the drug tastes unpleasant);
- Allergic reactions.
With the correct dose, the medicine is completely safe for the patient. An overdose can cause impaired coordination of movements, tachycardia, chest pain, decreased blood pressure, and disorientation in space. In this case, it is necessary to stop taking the medication, provide the patient with rest and symptomatic care.
Methionine analogues
The structural formula of methionine does not change depending on the form of release. The most convenient and cheapest drug is called Methionine, produced by the Russian Ozon plant. Methionine in sports is included in special supplements; before taking them, you need to ask for advice from a trainer or doctor. The drugs are sold in pharmacies and sports stores without a prescription.
Ademethionine is a substance that is obtained from methionine, the difference between them can be seen from its more complex chemical structure. Ademetionine is a more specialized compound that participates in toxin neutralization reactions. It can also be bought at the pharmacy in tablets.
What can be replaced?
There will always be drugs similar in composition and properties.
It is precisely because a person may have a personal intolerance to the drug that it can be exchanged for similar ones. The following products are most similar to Methionine:
- "Riboxin" (solution and tablet);
- "Karsil";
- "Hepafor";
- "Dipana";
- "Glutargin."
