The Essential Amino Acid Methionine

Methionine is an essential amino acid that must be obtained through the diet.  Methionine is a sulfur-containing compound and is necessary for your body to create certain antioxidants.  It is also necessary to ensure proper liver function and for the elimination of certain toxins. 

Methionine is also used to promote the growth of connective tissue (i.e. tendons and ligaments) and helps the body recover after injury.  Of particularly importance to athletes, it is also a necessary precursor to creatine, a substance that has been proven to enhance athletic performance.

Top 5 Amino Acid Supplements

	ISS Research Complete Amino 2200 Bodybuilders can especially benefit from supplementing amino acids because they aid in repair, growth, and development of muscle tissue.
	SciVation Xtend Xtend is a scientific blend of energy aminos consisting of the proven ratio of branched chain amino acids, glutamine, citrulline malate, and vitamin B6 that will give you the energy you need to maximize your training while enhancing recovery at the same time.
	Universal Animal Nitro Animal Nitro is the first and only supplement that contains the correct ratios of those aminos based on human muscle protein itself. This complex of aminos is appropriately called Human Muscle Protein Complex (HMPC).
	Optimum Amino 2222 Softgels Getting enough amino acids is an important factor in maintaining good nutrition. Each two softgel serving of Superior Amino 2222 Softgels provides 2,000 milligrams of high quality amino acids.
	Twinlab Amino Fuel Liquid A fast acting, easily digested liquid concentrate providing L-carnitine, branched chain amino acids (L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine) and pharmaceutical grade, peptide bonded and free amino acids.

Methionine helps the liver process fats and avoid the condition known as "fatty liver" that occurs when the liver cannot successfully process fat quickly enough.  Many athletes take Acetaminophen to treat the aches and pains that are a natural part of working out. 

Methionine helps the liver deal with the Acetaminophen, which has been shown to cause liver damage with prolonged exposure.  For this reason, some medical professionals have suggested that it should be added to Acetaminophen to avoid liver complications.

Strains, sprains, tears, pull--no matter what you call them they can stop your work out cold.  They can also keep you from training while the injury heals.  Methionine is a necessary component of collagen, which is a protein that is necessary in the production and maintenance of ligaments and tendons.  Methionine can help protect against sprains and strains and also aids in quick recovery should these injuries occur.

Another common problem that athletes endure is inflammation due to joint overuse or injury.  Methionine helps to bring down inflammation by destroying the agents in the body that cause inflammation, allowing the athlete to get back to training as quickly as possible.  Methionine can also reduce inflammation that is caused by certain health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Creatine is perhaps the most commonly used supplement in sports today.  It is well known for its ability to enhance muscle growth and strength.  It is also useful for making energy available to muscles thereby allowing them to perform longer and at higher efficiency.  It has also been suggested that creatine can be used in the treatment of certain cardiovascular conditions since it enhances the strength of the cardiac muscle and is a necessary component in the creation of creatine and, as such, is of great interest to athletes of all kinds.

Since Methionine is an essential amino acid, the body is unable to create it on its own and must obtain through your diet.  Therefore, it is a perfect candidate for supplements.  Most people who eat a normal diet obtain sufficient amounts, but serious athletes often take Methionine supplements to enhance their abilities. 

While no studies have proven that supplementation has a beneficial athletic effect, anecdotal evidence suggests that it should, since it is used in the formation of creatine.  While no negative effects of Methionine supplementation have been observed, it has been suggested that it may lead to certain types of cardiac disorders, so it would be a good idea to consult with your physician before taking supplements.

More Amino Acid Supplements

Read more on BCAA - Branched Chain Amino Acids for muscle building.

• Alanine
• Arginine
• Aspartic Acid
• Carnitine
• Cysteine
• Dopa
• Glutamic Acid
• Glutathione
• Histidine
• Isoleucine*
• Leucine *
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Ornithine
• Phenylalanine
• Taurine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Tyrosine
• Valine *