Interesting talking about D-Methionine
In some of the above studies, the D-methionine was given as DL-methionine,methionine, or N-acetyl-methionine. These L-methionine analogs seem to have been well tolerated, except that DL-methionine in infant feeds resulted in high tissue concentrations of D-methionine, with unknown consequences . However, no other adverse effects were noted. It has also been shown that intake of D-methionine(CAS NO: 348-67-4), but not L-methionine, caused high excretion of 3-methyl propionate.
In this article, I will show some questions and answers about the studies of D-Methionine, here we go!
Question 1:
This is an incredibly important time for you and your research partners! As best I recall, after more than a decade of research, you're just about to enter Phase 3 clinical trials for (the amino acid called) D-Methionine?
Answer 1:
That's right. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved us for a phase 3 clinical trial, as D-Methionine has demonstrated enormous protective potential with regard to noise-induced hearing loss, drug-induced hearing loss (with regard to platinum-based chemotherapy), as well as aminoglycoside antibiotics (with regard to moderate to severe infections and for treating radiation-induced oral mucositis following radiation treatment for head and neck cancers). D-Methionine also may be beneficial to help reduce other side effects from chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments.
Question 2:
But for now, to prevent noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, you're working with the United States Department of Defense (DOD)?
Answer 2:
Exactly. It's been a fantastic collaboration, and we work very well together. They have amazingly dedicated people, disciplined processes, and protocols but with unavoidable noise exposures. The opportunity to help our troops with an oral pharmacologic that may help reduce or prevent noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus is so interesting and may prove (in time) to be a significant game changer.
Question 3:
Absolutely. And as a reminder, Kathy, I believe your group discovered and published that D-Methionine protected against hearing loss caused by cisplatin—which was amazing then, and still seems amazing now. So then, this seems like a good time to ask, what is D-Methionine?
Answer 3:
D-Methionine is a micronutrient found in common foods such as cheese and yogurt—so it's not alien to the human digestive system. It's a component of high quality fermented protein in the diet and it's been studied for decades in both human and animal nutrition studies as well as our previous clinical trials for chemotherapy (i.e., cisplatin) induced hearing loss and radiation induced oral mucositis. I should note one simply cannot take a whole lot of protein and hope to get the same result, that won't work! It would take over 5 pounds of cheese for a single dose of this medicine. Not much fun! Of note, none of the subjects demonstrated side effects greater in the D-Methionine group than in the placebo group when given the same dosing level proposed for this study (100 mg/kg/day).
Question 4:
And I read that this medicine is a direct and an indirect antioxidant? And can you explain what that means, please?
Answer 4:
Well, these terms are difficult to conclusively define without getting into the real chemistry, but here's a way to think about it, Direct antioxidants are the common ones everyone is used to hearing about. These are found in berries, such a cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and there are other sources of antioxidants, too, such as beans, artichokes, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts, too.
These foods provide direct antioxidants and these same direct antioxidants interact with free radicals to interrupt oxidation, so as to preserve healthy molecules. However, indirect antioxidants are those which are produced by (and within) the body. D-Methionine is both! Of course there are all different types of antioxidants and they can act in different ways.
Quwetion 5:
Fascinating! Okay, and so D-Methionine seems to be a bit of a "wonder drug," so what do you think?
Answer 5:
Well, we're very hopeful. However, the reason we've gone through all of this work for the last decade or more is to be sure that when we come out with a statement, it is scientifically correct and well documented. As you know, Doug, there are just hundreds and thousands of supplements and vitamins and non-FDA approved claims made for lotions, potions and pills for everything from tinnitus to dizziness to hearing loss and bogus cancer cures and so much more! Many of the ads and some claims made in non-FDA approved "treatments" are just ridiculous, unproven and in some cases unconscionable.
Want to learn more information about D-Methionine, you can access the guidechem.com. Guidechem.com is just a place for you to look for some chemicals.