Effect of different levels of dietary methionine restriction on relieving oxidative stress and behavioral deficits in middle-aged mice fed low-, medium-, or high-fat diet

Abstract

Dietary methionine restriction (MR) could prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespan. The present study compared the effects of different levels of MR on oxidative stress and behavioral deficits in middle-aged mice fed a diet with various contents of fat. C57BL/6J middle-aged male mice were divided into nine groups with various combinations of dietary fat (low, medium, and high) and MR (0%, 60%, and 80%). MR attenuated dietary fat-induced oxidative stress and anxiety; improved athletic ability, learning, memory, and cognitive ability in conjunction with an improved thyroid function in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the beneficial effect of MR60 was prominent in middle-aged mice fed a HF diet relative to the corresponding MR0 group. These results provide more information on the appropriate methionine content to design personalized nutritional diets.

Keywords

• Methionine restriction
• Fat content
• Oxidative stress
• Behavioral performance
• Thyroid function