[Academic conference/seminar report] Two effects of cystine were presented at the 6th Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Symposium hosted by the Japanese Society of Amino Acid Science

The Ajinomoto Co. Food Research Institute reported on two effects of cystine at the 6th Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Symposium hosted by the Japanese Society of Amino Acid Science (held online on May 2021, 5).

Cystine is composed of two molecules of the non-essential amino acid cysteine. Cystine is a raw material for glutathione (GSH), which plays a role in reducing oxidative stress in the body, and is known to enhance the body's antioxidant function.

On the other hand, it is known that oxidative stress caused by exercise reduces energy production in mitochondria within cells, and reduces the barrier function due to damage to the digestive tract mucosa. We have demonstrated that cystine has an improving effect on these problems caused by oxidative stress, and have published the results.

① Cystine improves mitochondrial energy production

Mitochondria, organelles within cells, are known to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy substance required for exercise, from carbohydrates and lipids. However, oxidative stress that occurs during exercise reduces mitochondrial ATP production function.

Therefore, we examined the effect of cystine on the decline in mitochondrial function caused by oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) in skeletal muscle-derived cells.
As a result, it was confirmed that cystine increases intracellular GSH concentration, reduces oxidative stress, and improves ATP production in mitochondria.

These findings suggest that cystine may improve energy production during exercise.

② Cystine prevents the deterioration of the digestive barrier function caused by oxidative stress

Nutrients ingested from food are absorbed through the digestive tract (mainly the small intestine and large intestine). However, because the digestive tract contains foreign substances such as intestinal bacteria and toxins, the digestive tract has a barrier function to prevent these foreign substances from entering the body.
However, it has been reported that this barrier function of the digestive tract is weakened by exercise. If this barrier function is weakened and foreign objects in the digestive tract enter the body, it may worsen inflammation throughout the body.

Therefore, we investigated the effect of cystine on the decline in barrier function caused by oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) in human gastrointestinal cells.
As a result, it was confirmed that cystine increases intracellular GSH concentration, suppresses inflammation caused by oxidative stress, and improves the impaired barrier function of the digestive tract.

These findings suggest that cystine may prevent inflammation throughout the body by improving barrier function during exercise.