EFFECT OF METHIONINE SUPPLEMENTATION TO A LOW-SOYBEAN PROTEIN-DIET ONLIVER LIPID-METABOLISM

Female Wistar rats were fed a low-soybean protein (8%) diet supplement ed with different concentrations of DL-methionine (0-1.2%) during the lactation period. Diet supplementation with methionine caused a signif icant increase in rat body weight. The addition of 0.3% DL-methionine to the diet did not cause an increase in liver triacylglycerol concent ration in 21-day-old rats, but an increase did occur after the additio n of 0.6% DL-methionine to the diet. Supplementation of the diet with DL-methionine did not change liver phospholipid or protein concentrati ons, nor plasma triacylglycerol levels. Liver lipid synthesis from [1- C-14]acetate in 21-day-old rats whose dams had been fed an 8% soybean protein diet supplemented with 1.2% DL-methionine was significantly hi gher than in the group receiving no DL-methionine supplementation. Hep atic Methionine production of CO2 and of water-soluble acid products f rom Fatty liver [1-C-14]palmitate did not differ between groups. Inosi tol addition to a low-soybean protein diet supplemented with DL-methio nine did not change triacylglycerol nor phospholipid levels in the liv er.