Methionine Cautions
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General warnings and precautions
In general, methionine supplements produce no major problems for otherwise healthy individuals, but certain people should not take methionine supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice:
- People with kidney or liver disease
- People who have any type of serious illness
- People who have homocysteinuria
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
People with homocysteinuria should reduce their methionine intake and supplement with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) instead.
In general, methionine supplements produce no major problems for otherwise healthy individuals, but certain people should not take methionine supplements
Toxic Levels of Methionine
Methionine may produce some toxicity at doses greater than 3000mg per day.
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms
Excessive intake of methionine (especially if the diet or supplements are also low in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and folic acid) could experience an elevation in homocysteine, which is a by-product of the conversion of methionine to cysteine. Homocysteine levels are normally decreased by adequate intake of foods or supplements high in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and folic acid. Homocysteine is a harmful substance which is implicated in heart disease, in particular with hardening of the arteries.
There are no known adverse drug or nutrient interactions with methionine.