The phrasing of the title and paper steer the interpretation towards reducing cysteine as a method for increasing weight loss, however I think that the much more interesting takeaway is this:
> Notably, restoration of up to 75% cystine levels in the diet of Cth−/− CysF mice that were undergoing weight loss was sufficient to completely rescue the body weight
This might indicate that cysteine depletion could be one mechanism present in some wasting diseases, and that strategic supplementation of cysteine may be beneficial in reducing excessive weight loss in such diseases. I would be quite interested to see future research in this area.
Cysteine is also an irreplaceable building block of vital proteins required to sustain life. It’s unclear if there is any potential benefit of applying these findings to the problem of human weight loss or fitness.
I agree, for example Pepsin[1] that is the protein inside the stomach that split proteins has Cysteine [2]
> Pepsin forms three between the sulfur atoms of cysteine residues in the peptide chain which hold important roles in the folding of the protein and stabilizing the two domains
Wikipedia's disclaimers on that: "Cysteine can usually be synthesized by the human body under normal physiological conditions if a sufficient quantity of methionine is available."
I would make a stronger statement and say that this belongs squarely on the effect and not the cause side.
I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Amino acid depletion sounds way more likely to be due to some kind of disruption in homeostasis rather than dietary intake.
Cysteine plays a key role in redox metabolism and removing reactive oxygen species (ROS). During brown fat burning, high flux of electrons increases the NADH/NAD⁺ and FADH₂/FAD ratios — shifting redox state toward a more reduced environment, which is exactly what you would need if deprived of cysteine.
It's difficult to reduce cysteine by diet since it occurs in a wide variety of foods plus reducing it may be harmful as it is used in beneficial ways as well. So more research needed.
This should only act as a clue into driving weight loss. Depleting of cysteine is severe. It would be depriving a team from writing html and discovery the code runs faster… very drastic imposition
Readit News
> Notably, restoration of up to 75% cystine levels in the diet of Cth−/− CysF mice that were undergoing weight loss was sufficient to completely rescue the body weight
This might indicate that cysteine depletion could be one mechanism present in some wasting diseases, and that strategic supplementation of cysteine may be beneficial in reducing excessive weight loss in such diseases. I would be quite interested to see future research in this area.
https://nutritionfacts.org/hnta-video/how-to-get-less-cystei...
I didn't read much after that
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> Pepsin forms three between the sulfur atoms of cysteine residues in the peptide chain which hold important roles in the folding of the protein and stabilizing the two domains
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsin
[2] https://biology.kenyon.edu/BMB/jsmol2021/Cat_Marko/index.htm...
I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Amino acid depletion sounds way more likely to be due to some kind of disruption in homeostasis rather than dietary intake.