A Markedly Anti-lipotropic Action of Methionine

Abstract

WHEN adult male rats are fed a protein-free, otherwise adequate diet, liver neutral lipid is doubled after 4 weeks of feeding¹. In a more detailed and extended investigation of the interrelationships of dietary protein-level and lipid metabolism in the rat, we have examined the possibility of alleviating the fatty liver produced in protein deficiency by including a low level of the ordinarily lipotropic agent, methionine, in a protein-free ration. When this was done it was observed that the livers increased markedly in size and became light brown in colour and very friable. Further investigation revealed that the livers had become very fatty.