The sulphur-containing amino acid L-methionine is an important building block of our proteins. As the human body cannot produce L-methionine itself, we are dependent on a regular intake of this vital substance. L-methionine can build very strong disulphide bridges via its sulphur content. Accordingly, the amino acid is always incorporated into proteins where a solid structure is required. It is therefore not surprising that our cartilage tissue contains a lot of L-methionine to give the joints sufficient strength. However, L-methionine is not only a building block of proteins, but is also involved in many other processes in the body, such as the synthesis of adrenaline or the marking of our genetic material. It also promotes detoxification and protects the liver from excessive fat storage.
L-methionine and osteoarthritis
L-methionine and the sulphur it contains are important components of the joints. A lack of L-methionine can therefore lead to osteoarthritis, in addition to numerous metabolic disorders. Scientists have found that the cartilage of osteoarthritis patients only contains around a third of the amount of sulphur found in healthy people. Numerous studies show that the targeted administration of L-methionine can alleviate pain in the joints.
L-methionine requirement
The daily requirement of the amino acid can vary greatly from person to person. For adults, it is between five and 13 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. In individual cases, for example if the second sulphur-containing amino acid cysteine is not present in the diet, the daily requirement can increase to up to 21 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
Occurrence of L-methionine
Many foods contain L-methionine, and Brazil nuts contain particularly large quantities. 100 grams of these protein-rich nuts contain around one gram of methionine. But beef and chicken, fish, soybeans and sesame seeds are also excellent sources of methionine. Vitamins B12 and folic acid are necessary to make optimum use of the L-methionine from food.
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