S-Methyl Cysteine Sulfoxide Does Not Ameliorate Weight Gain or Hyperlipidemia in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

Higher intake of cruciferous and allium vegetables is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk. Little research has investigated the cardiometabolic effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO), found abundant in these vegetables. This study hypothesizes that SMCSO will blunt development of metabolic syndrome features in mice fed high-fat feed.

Fifty C57BL/6 male mice are randomly assigned to standard-chow, high-fat, or high-fat supplemented with low-SMCSO (43 mg kg^-1 body weight [BW] day^-1), medium-SMCSO (153 mg kg^-1 BW day^-1), or high-SMCSO (256 mg kg^-1 BW day^-1) for 12-weeks. High-fat with SMCSO did not prevent diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, or hypercholesterolemia. Mice fed high-fat with SMCSO has higher hepatic lipids than mice fed standard-chow or high-fat alone. Urinary SMCSO increases at 6- and 12-weeks in the low-SMCSO group, before reducing 46% and 28% in the medium- and high-SMCSO groups, respectively, at 12-weeks, suggesting possible tissue saturation. Interestingly, two SMCSO-fed groups consume significantly more feed, without significant weight gain. Due to limitations in measuring consumed feed, caution should be taken interpreting these results.

SMCSO (43-256 mg kg^-1 BW day^-1) does not ameliorate metabolic syndrome features in high-fat fed mice. Substantial knowledge gaps remain. Further studies should administer SMCSO separately (i.e., gavage), with metabolic studies exploring tissue levels to better understand its physiological action.