Effect of Methionine and Casein on Acetoacetate Induced Hyperglycemia

Summary 1. Hyperglycemia caused by daily repeated injection of acetoacetate to rabbits was completely prevented by supplementing 2% methionine to sulfhydryl deficient diet. 2. Methionine in lower concentration (0.2 to 0.5%), however, failed to prevent acetoacetate induced hyperglycemia. 3. A partial prevention of such hyperglycemia is observed when the concentration of methionine is maintained at 1% level. 4. Animals maintained on the diet supplemented with casein (26%) show normal blood sugar value up to 40 days. But as the injection is continued for another 30 days at the following doses of acetoacetate injection: 31st to 50th day, 150 mg/kg; 51st to 70th day, 225 mg/kg, there is a slight tendency of hyperglycemia in these animals. 5. An inverse relationship between the blood glutathione concentration and blood sugar value has been observed. More the depletion of blood GSH, more is the rise of blood sugar brought about by the ketone bodies. 6. Deficiency of SH compounds seems to be an essential factor for acetoacetate induced diabetes in experimental animals.