Effects of high methionine diet on oxidative stress in serum, apo-B containing lipoproteins, heart, and aorta in rabbits.

This study investigated in rabbits whether a high methionine (HM) diet influences oxidative stress parameters in serum, apo-B containing lipoproteins (LDL+VLDL), heart, and aorta. Rabbits received a normal commercial chow supplemented with 2% L-methionine (w/w) for 6 mo (approximately 1 g/kg body wt/day). Serum homocysteine (HCys), malondialdehyde (MDA), diene conjugate (DC), and cholesterol levels were found to be increased, but protein carbonyl (PC) and triglyceride levels remained unchanged in the HM group as compared to controls. Cholesterol, endogenous DC, and copper-induced MDA levels were significantly higher in the LDL+VLDL fraction of plasma lipoproteins in the HM group. MDA and DC levels were found to be increased in homogenates of heart and aorta in the HM group. The HM diet caused significant increases in cardiac glutathione peroxidase activity, but glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C levels and superoxide dismutase and glutathione transferase activities remained unchanged. There were no significant differences in the cholesterol levels and histopathological findings in the aortas of the control vs the HM group. This study demonstrates that a HM diet induces oxidative stress in serum, apo-B containing lipoproteins, heart, and aorta in rabbits.