Low methionine diet fights cancer
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By David Liu, PHD
Saturday Sept 9, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A review article in Cancer Treatment Reviews suggests that following a diet with low methionine may slow cancer growth and extend life-span in cancer patients.
Methionine is an essential amino acid needed for mammalian metabolism such as protein synthesis, methylation of DNA and polyamine synthesis. And even cancer cells need methionine for its growth, proliferation and survival.
Paul Cavuoto and Michael F. Fenech of CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences in Adelaide BC, Australia say in their report that methionine dependence in cancer may be due to some mutation in genes in the methionine de novo and salvage pathways. Similarly, defects in the metabolism of folate may also lead to the methionine dependence phenotype in cancer, according to the authors.
Cancer cells with such defects or mutations in the metabolism of methionine and or folate are unable to regenerate methionine through these pathways and they have to use dietary methionine for growth and proliferation.
Laboratory studies show that methionine dependent cancer cells when co-cultured with normal cells in an environment deficient in methionine were easy to be killed. Animal studies also show a methionine-restricted diet inhibited cancer growth and extended a healthy life-span.
In the case of humans, vegan diets, which can be low in methionine, may be enlisted as a a useful nutritional strategy to control cancer growth. Use of an enzyme that can decompose methionine in the blood in a way to reduce its circulating level may be another possible strategy in restricting cancer growth.
In one case, as the story is circulated over the Internet, one cancer patient refused to take conventional cancer treatment and instead followed a nutritional therapy master to use a vegan diet and as a result he defeated his cancer in a matter of a few months. The story was told by the patient's doctor who pursued his patient to immediately use conventional treatment or he would not survive long. After defeating his cancer, the survivor did seem to have suffered some signs of malnutrition, but his cancer died out and never came back while he got normalized soon in terms of his nutritional needs.
Clinical studies, according to the authors, are now focusing on the application of nutritional methionine restriction and methioninase in combination with chemotherapeutic regimens to fight cancer, the authors say in their report.
Cancer patients should by all means avoid foods that promote cancer growth like the high methionine foods,high protein, high fat, high sugar etc. These foods can not only contain high levels of methionine because of high protein content, but they also promote the production of many growth hormones, which in turn promote cancer growth.
Because methionine is an amino acid found in proteins, high protein foods like dairy products and meats contain usually high levels of methionine. That is why Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a distinguished nutrition professor at Cornell University and others keep saying that a plant-based diet (vegan diet excluding dairy products) helps prevent cancer.
(Editor's comment: Cancer patients should keep in mind that U.S. physicians are not required to receive any training on nutrition to get licensed to practice medicine. In other words, they may not be in a position to give you the best advice on what you should eat or not eat to prevent or treat any disease. Those who want to survive should do their homework and learn the art of eating including what to eat, how to eat and when to eat etc to live a better life with or without any cancer)
Here are foods listed in an ascending order of methionine content, starting with the lowest and ending with the highest.
Apple(raw)
Satsuma mandarin(fruit juices, straight fruit juice)
Japanese pear(raw)
Peach(raw)
Satsuma mandarin(fruit juices, reconstituted fruit juice.....
Japanese plums(raw)
Grape(raw)
Daikon, Japanese radish(root without skin, raw)
Mume, Japanese apricot(raw)
Grapefruit(juice sacs, raw)
Natsumikan(juice sacs, raw)
Watermelon(raw)
Daikon, Japanese radish(root with skin, raw)
Fig(raw)
Nebuka-negi(leaves, blanched, raw)
Navel(juice sacs, raw)
Kaki, Japanese persimmon(nonastringent, raw)
Mozuku(salted, desalted)
Satsuma mandarin(segments, normal ripening type, raw)
Melon(open culture, raw)
Tomato(fruit, raw)
Rice, Paddy rice thin gruel(well-milled rice)
Carrot, regular(root without skin, raw)
Head lettuce, crisp type(head, raw)
Celery(petiole, raw)
Onion(bulb, raw)
Carrot, regular(root with skin, raw)
Turnip(root, without skin, raw)
Edible burdock(root, raw)
Turnip(root, with skin, raw)
Chinese cabbage(head, raw)
Cucumber(fruit, raw)
Eggplant(fruit, raw)
Strawberry(raw)
Pineapple(raw)
Rice, Paddy rice diluted gruel(well-milled rice)
Green sweet pepper(fruit, raw)
Cabbage(head, raw)
Banana(raw)
Human milk
Jelly(wine)
Black gram sprout(raw)
Komatsuna(leaves, raw)
East Indian lotus root(rhizome, raw)
Nameko(raw)
Satoimo(corm, raw)
Kiwifruit(raw)
Marshmallow
Chinese yam, Nagaimo(tuberous root, raw)
Pumpkin, Japan(fruit, raw)
Shiitake, Nama-shiitake(raw)
Sweet potatoe(tuberous root, raw)
Kidney bean, Sayaingen(immature pods, raw)
Winter mushroom(raw)
Pumpkin, Western(fruit, raw)
Sayaendo(immature pods, raw)
Chinese chive(leaves, raw)
Lactic acid bacteria beverage(ordinary milk-solid, nonfa.....
Potatoe(tuber, raw)
Imo-karinto
Rice, Paddy rice gruel(well-milled rice)
Okra(pods, raw)
Common mushroom(raw)
Head lettuce, butter type(leaves, raw)
Asparagus(shoots, raw)
Japanese chestnut(raw)
Spinach(leaves, raw)
Garland chrysanthemum(leaves, raw)
Daikon, Japanese radish(leaves, raw)
Soybean sprout(raw)
Bamboo shoot(shoots, raw)
Avocado(raw)
Cauliflower(inflorescence, raw)
Spinach(leaves, boiled)
Cream(milk fat)
Cattle, Beef, dairy fattened steer(rib loin, fat, raw)
Soy milk(regular type)
Green pea(raw)
Leaf mustard(leaves, raw)
Garlic(bulb, raw)
Broccoli(inflorescence, raw)
Sea cucumber(raw)
Rice, Cooked paddy rice(well-milled rice)
Spinach(leaves, frozen)
Pie(apple pie)
Kanpyo(raw)
Onigiri
Yaki-onigiri
Croquette(potato type, for frying, frozen)
Matsukaze
Shoyu, Soy sauce(koikuchi-shoyu)
Wheat flour cracker(isobe-senbei)
Broad bean(immature beans, raw)
Lactic ice(regular)
Potato chip(regular)
Sweet corn(immature kernels, raw)
Swine, Pork, large type breed(loin, fat, raw)
Kiritanpo
Boro(eisei-boro)
Okara(traditional product)
Steamed Chinese noodle
Raw milk(holstein)
Shoyu, Soy sauce(tamari-shoyu)
Shoyu, Soy sauce(usukuchi-shoyu)
Udon(wet form, raw)
Yogurt(whole milk, unsweetened)
Wheat flour cracker(maki-senbei)
Barley-koji miso
Soybean, Tofu(momen-tofu)
Okara(modern product)
Wakame Blanched and salted(desalted)
Chicken, Offal(skin, thigh, raw)
Puff pie
Barley(pressed grain, raw)
Rye bread
Ginkgo nut(raw)
Chinese style cookie
Chio tzu(frozen)
Bread type rolls
Pie(pie pastry)
Biscuit(hard)
White table bread
Udon(dry form, raw)
Tenobe-somen and Tenobehiyamugi(dry form, raw)
Short-necked clam(raw)
Hard clam(raw)
Cracker(oil-sprayed)
Sable, shortbread
Wheat flour snack, extruded
Corn snack, extruded
130 mg
Rice-koji miso(light yellow type)
130 mg
Wheat flour(soft flour, first grade)
French bread
Somen and Hiyamugi(dry form, raw)
Chinese noodle(wet form, raw)
Buckwheat noodle(wet form, raw)
Ma-konbu(dried)
Oyster(cultured, raw)
Coffee whitener(liquid, milk fat)
Wafer
Rice-koji miso(sweet type)
Wheat flour(soft flour, second grade)
Rice, Paddy rice grain(well-milled rice, raw)
Corn(cornflakes)
Rye(flour)
Macadamia nut(roasted and salted)
Freshwater clam(raw)
Wheat flour(medium flour, first grade)
Edamame(raw)
Cracker(soda)
Wheat flour(medium flour, second grade)
Rice, Paddy rice grain(brown rice, raw)
Chicken, Offal(skin, breast, raw)
Kasutera
Wheat flour cracker(kawara-senbei)
Rice-koji miso(dark yellow type)
Shao mai(frozen)
Broad bean(whole, dried, raw)
Almond(dried)
Wheat flour cracker(nanbu-senbei, with peanuts)
Boro(soba-boro)
Rice vermicelli(raw)
Dried buckwheat noodle(dry form, raw)
Wheat flour(hard flour, first grade)
Wheat flour(hard flour, second grade)
Corn(corn grits)
Pea(whole, dried, raw)
Macaroni and Spaghetti(dry form, raw)
Rye(whole flour)
Shiitake, Hoshi-shiitake(dried)
Abalone(raw)
Sponge cake
Buckwheat flour(straight)
Hen clam(raw)
Cocoa(pure cocoa)
Soybean-koji miso
Kidney bean(whole, dried, raw)
Soybean, Abura-age
Soybean, Natto(itohiki-natto)
Walnut(roasted)
Foods Low in Methionine (181st ~ 210th) (per 100g edible portion)
Hijiki(boiled and dried)
Wheat flour cracker(nanbu-senbei, with sesame seeds)
Oats(oatmeal, raw)
Pistachio nut(roasted and salted)
Hamburg steak(frozen)
Scallop(raw)
Modified milk powder
Common octopus(raw)
Fish paste product(fish sausage)
Swine, Offal(kidney, raw)
Adzuki bean(whole, dried, raw)
Peanut(dried)
Snow crab(raw)
Bloody clam(raw)
Antarctic krill(raw)
Mung bean(whole, dried, raw)
Blue shark(raw)
Cockle(foot, raw)
Firefly squid(raw)
Job's tears(milled grain, raw)
Cuttlefish(raw)
Cattle, Beef, dairy fattened steer(rib loin, lean and fa.....
Foxtail millet(milled grain, raw)
Sea urchin(raw gonads)
Fish paste product(mushi-kamaboko)
Chicken, Offal(heart, raw)
Cowpea(whole, dried, raw)
Horsehair crab(raw)
Cattle, Offal(kidney, raw)
Adzuki bean, An, Bean paste(sarashi-an)
Foods Low in Methionine (211st ~ 240th) (per 100g edible portion)
Cattle, Beef, Japanese beef cattle(sirloin, without subc.....
Cattle, Beef, dairy fattened steer(rib loin, without sub.....
Swine, Offal(tongue, raw)
Pine nut(roasted)
Turban shell(raw)
Cattle, Offal(tongue, raw)
Hen's egg(whole, raw)
Hen's egg(yolk, raw)
Hen's egg(white, raw)
Swine, Offal(heart, raw)
Cashew nut(oil-roasted and salted)
Atlantic capelin(semi-dried, raw)
Spear squid(raw)
Cattle, Offal(heart, raw)
Sandfish(raw)
Whelk(raw)
Chicken, Broiler meat(thigh, with skin, raw)
Loach(raw)
Pond smelt(raw)
Swine, Ground meat(raw)
Japanese quail's egg(whole, raw)
Sablefish(raw)
Mantis shrimp(boiled)
Cattle, Ground meat(raw)
Japanese eel(cultured, raw)
Chicken, Offal(liver, raw)
Chicken, Offal(gizzard, raw)
Cattle, Offal(liver, raw)
Soybean, Whole bean(usa, dried, raw)
Soybean, Whole bean(china, dried, raw)
Foods Low in Methionine (241st ~ 270th) (per 100g edible portion)
Cattle, Beef, dairy fattened steer(rib loin, lean, raw)
Swine, Offal(liver, raw)
Walleye pollack(tarako, raw)
Fu, Gluten products(baked type, kanze-fu)
Common Japanese conger(raw)
Carp(cultured, raw)
Swine, Pork, large type breed(loin, lean and fat, raw)
Soybean, Whole bean(domestic, dried, raw)
Soybean, Kinako(whole bean type)
Black scraper(raw)
Pacific saury(raw)
Cattle, Beef, dairy fattened steer(sirloin, without subc.....
Japanese sand lance(raw)
Alfonsino(raw)
Pacific cod(raw)
Atka mackerel(raw)
Japanese bluefish(raw)
Japanese spiny lobster(raw)
Tiger prawn(cultured, raw)
Chicken, Broiler meat(thigh, without skin, raw)
Matsubara's red rockfish(raw)
Ayu sweetfish(cultured, raw)
Purple puffer(raw)
Crucian carp(raw)
Striped mullet(raw)
Shiba shrimp(raw)
Chicken, Broiler meat(breast, with skin, raw)
Soybean, Kinako(hulled bean type)
Ayu sweetfish(wild, raw)
Japanese anchovy(raw)
Pacific herring(raw)
Horse(meat, lean, raw)
Hake(raw)
Chicken(ground meat, raw)
Walleye pollack(raw)
Bluefin tuna(fatty meat, raw)
Swine, Pork, large type breed(loin, without subcutaneous.....
Japanese pilchard(raw)
Croaker(raw)
Hairtail(raw)
Yellowfin goby(raw)
Rabbit(meat, lean, raw)
Process cheese
Wheat germ
Gizzard shad(raw)
Rainbow trout(cultured in freshwater, raw)
Black rockfish(raw)
Swine, Pork, medium type breed(loin, without subcutaneou.....
Tile fish(raw)
Barracuda(raw)
Tilapia(raw)
Shirasuboshi(mild dried)
Whale(meat, lean, raw)
Swine, Pork, large type breed(loin, lean, raw)
Guinea fowl(meat, without skin, raw)
Brown sole(raw)
Goat(meat, lean, raw)
Horse mackerel(raw)
Big-eye sardine(raw)
Blue marlin(raw)
Japanese whiting(raw)
Red sea bream(wild, raw)
Yellowtail(young, cultured, raw)
Chicken, Broiler meat(breast, without skin, raw)
Spanish mackerel(raw)
Conger pike(raw)
Turkey(meat, without skin, raw)
Flying fish(raw)
Yellowtail(mature, raw)
Chum salmon(raw)
Skipjack(caught in autumn, raw)
Mackerel(raw)
Skipjack(caught in spring, raw)
Bastard halibut(cultured, raw)
Natural cheese(cheddar)
Yellowfin tuna(raw)
Sesame seed(dried)
Yuba(dried type)
Bluefin tuna(lean meat, raw)
Soybean, Tofu(kori-dofu)
Swine(gelatin)
Chum salmon(sujiko)
Skimmed milk powder
Purple laver(dried)
Soy protein(isolated type)
Shirasuboshi(semi-dried)
Wheat gluten(powdered type)
Skipjack, Processed product(katsuo-bushi)
Skipjack, Processed product(kezuri-bushi)
Casein
end of list
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