Feasibility and Acceptance of a Low-Methionine Diet
Open Access
- Author:
- Koudela, Marie Elizabeth
- Area of Honors:
- Nutritional Sciences
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Terryl Johnson Hartman, Thesis Supervisor
Terryl Johnson Hartman, Thesis Supervisor
Mary Lou Kiel, Thesis Supervisor
Rebecca L Corwin, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Methionine
Hominex-1
methionine-restriction
calorie-restriction
cancer - Abstract:
- The cancer rates in the United States and other countries of the world continue to rapidly increase and many lives are lost each year to this horrible disease. Advances in surgical procedures, radiation therapy and new chemotherapy as well as other medications have increased survival rates and allowed patients to live abundant lives after cancer. Although these therapies are beneficial and lifesaving, they also produce adverse side effects that can lead to future health problems. Because of these unfavorable side effects, the idea of constructing a diet to aid in the prevention and treatment is of significant interest. Past research has shown that a lowmethionine diet may promote overall health, and help prevent and treat cancerous tumors. The objective of this research is to examine the probability that a healthy adult could maintain and follow a diet low in methionine, as well as supplement the diet with a beverage that provides the necessary nutrients, without experiencing adverse medical effects. Daily monitoring, pre-study and post-study questionnaires were successfully developed to evaluate the ability of participants to tolerate and maintain a low-methionine diet regimen for eight weeks. Overall, this study has shown that the low-methionine diet prescription is feasible and that for the most part, the participants can cope with the required liquid supplement during a limited time. However, in order for the many health advantages of a low-methionine diet to be realized, it is crucial that a drink is developed that is more palatable and can be tolerated over longer periods of time.