Dietary Methionine Supplementation Exacerbates Gastrointestinal Toxicity in a Mouse Model of Abdominal Irradiation.

Background And Purpose: Identification of appropriate dietary strategies for prevention of weight and muscle loss in cancer patients is crucial for successful treatment and prolonged patient survival. High-protein oral nutritional supplements decrease mortality and improve indices of nutritional status in cancer patients; however, high-protein diets are often rich in methionine, and experimental evidence indicates that a methionine-supplemented diet (MSD) exacerbates gastrointestinal toxicity after total body irradiation. Here, we sought to investigate whether MSD can exacerbate gastrointestinal toxicity after local abdominal irradiation, an exposure regimen more relevant to clinical settings.

Medical Foods-A Closer Look at the Menu: A Brief Review and Commentary.

The notion of a medical food-a foodstuff that, by definition, must be obtained and used while under medical supervision, and regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, is a source of considerable confusion to the lay public as well as many-if not most-in the health professions community. Such restrictions are more often associated with pharmaceutical agents or medical devices. Additionally, specific regulatory aspects of medical foods are overseen by the US Food and Drug Administration, and these specifics appear to overlap with other foods and dietary supplements in terms of requirements and allowances.