| S-adenosyl-L-methionine [SAMe, S-adenosylmethionine] Side effects, Health Benefits Research Finds updated on FEB, 2008 |
| S-adenosyl-L-methionine [SAMe, S-adenosylmethionine], not abundant in the diet, but is normally produced in the liver from methionine. Foli acid and vitamin B12 are necessary for the synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine]. Deficiencies of these vitamins always lead to low concentrations of S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] in the central nervous system [1]. Low blood or central nervous system levels of S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] is also associated with cirrhosis of the liver, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and depression [2-4]. S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] participates in over 40 essential biochemical reactions including detoxifications and in the manufacture of brain chemicals, antioxidants, joint tissue structures [5,6]. It is found that S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] may raise levels of dopamine [7,8]. Consequently, it has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for depression in some studies [9-15, 16, 17]. S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] is also found to be anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and tissue-healing that may support the health of joints [18-27, 28]. Researchers finds that S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] may be helpful in various liver conditions such as cholestasis, Gilbert's syndrome, alcoholic liver injury, and cirrhosis [29-31]. S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] may also increase sperm activity in infertile men [32]. Recent Research Studies Anti-Cancer Pascale RM et al, University of Sassari, Italy, observed a decrease in S-adenosyl-L-methionine [SAMe, S-adenosylmethionine] content in the liver, associated with DNA hypomethylation in rat liver, during the development of preneoplastic foci, and in neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas, induced in diethylnitrosamine-initiated rats by "resistant hepatocyte" (RH) protocol. Reconstitution of the methyl donor level in the liver by S-adenosyl-L-methionine [SAMe, S-adenosylmethionine] administration inhibits growth and induces phenotypic reversion and apoptosis of preneoplastic cells. They proposed a few possible mechanisms for its chemopreventive effect [Alcohol. 2002 Jul;27(3):193-8]. Simile MM et al, Universita di Sassari, Italy, stated that S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] is a strong chemopreventive agent of rat liver carcinogenesis. They found S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] causes a persistent decrease in growth capacity of preneoplastic liver lesions in rats subjected to a diethylnitrosamine/TB protocol in their studies. [Carcinogenesis. 1996 Jul;17(7):1533-7]. Alcoholic Liver Damage Stickel F et al, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany, stated that S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine], pentoxifylline, metadoxin, polyenylphosphatidylcholine or inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 2E1 isoenzyme are promising to treat alcoholic liver damage in their review article. [Z Gastroenterol. 2003 Apr;41(4):333-42]. Alzheimer's Disease Cohen BM et al, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, did not found S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine], produced neither improvement nor worsening of symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) [J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1988 Feb;8(1):43-7]. Though Eto K et al, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan, observed that S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine], a CBS activator, is much reduced in AD brain [Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 May 24;293(5):1485-8]. Depression Pancheri P et suggested that S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] may be useful in treatment of depression [Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2002 Dec;5(4):287-94]. Alpert JE et al, Harvard Medical School, concluded that augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine with S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] warrants a placebo-controlled trial in resistant depression [J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2004 Dec;24(6):661-4]. Toxicity / SIDE EFFECT Goren JL et al, McLean Hospital, Massachusetts, concluded that oral dosages of 1600 mg/day of S-adenosyl-L-methionine [S-adenosylmethionine] appear to be significantly bioavailable and nontoxic [Pharmacotherapy. 2004 Nov;24(11):1501-7]. S-adenosyl-L-methionine [ S-adenosylmethionine] may cause Parkinson's disease-like syndromes [33]. This Article is for your reference only. If you have any questions, please, consult with your doctor. All right reserved 2005 References 1. Bottiglieri T, Hyland K, Reynolds EH. Drugs 1994;48:137-52 [review].2. Osman E, Owen JS, Burroughs AK. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1993;7:21-8 [review].3. Loehrer FM, Angst CP, Haefeli WE, et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1996;16:727-33. 4. Bottiglieri T, Godfrey P, Flynn T, et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1990;53:1096-8. 5. Chiang PK, Gordon RK, Tal J, et al. FASEB J 1996;10:471-80 [review]. 6. Bottiglieri T, Hyland K, Reynolds EH. Drugs 1994;48:137-52 [review]. 7. Fava M, Rosenbaum JF, MacLaughlin R, et al. J Psychiatr Res 1990;24:177-84. 8. Bell KM, Potkin SG, Carreon D, Plon L. Acta Neurol Scand 1994;154(suppl):15-8. 9. Bell KM, Potkin SG, Carreon D, Plon L. Acta Neurol Scand 1994;154(suppl):15-8. 10. Bressa GM. Acta Neurol Scand 1994;154(suppl):7-14. 11. Salmaggi P, Bressa GM, Nicchia G, et al. Psychother Psychosom 1993;59:34-40. 12. Kagan BL, Sultzer DL, Rosenlicht N, et al. Am J Psychiatry 1990;147:591-5. 13. Fava M, Rosenbaum JF, Birnbaum R, et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1992;86:42-5. 14. De Vanna M, Rigamonti R. Curr Ther Res 1992;52:478-85. 15. Fava M, Giannelli A, Rapisarda V. Psychiatr Res 1995;56:295-7. 16. Tavoni A, Jeracitano G, Cirigliano G. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1998;16:106-7 [letter]. 17. Tavoni A, Vitali C, Bombardieri S, et al. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):107-10. 18. Schumacher HR. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):1-4 [review]. 19. Harmand MF, Vilamitjana J, Maloche E, et al. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):48-54. 20. Domljan Z, Vrhovac B, Durrigl T, Pucar I. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 1989;27:329-33. 21. Muller-Fassbender H. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):81-3. 22. Vetter G. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):78-80. 23. Maccagno A. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):72-7. 24. Caruso I, Pietrogrande V. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):66-71. 25. Marcolongo R, Giordano N, Colombo B, et al. Curr Ther Res 1985;37:82-94. 26. Glorioso S, Todesco S, Mazzi A, et al. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1985;5:39-49. 27. Montrone F, Fumagalli M, Sarzi Puttini P, et al. Clin Rheumatol 1985;4:484-5. 28. Jacobsen S, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Andersen RB. Scand J Rheumatol 1991;20:294-302. 29. Angelico M, Gandin C, Nistri A, et al. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1994;54:459-64. 30. Frezza M, Surrenti C, Manzillo G, et al. Gastroenterology 1990;99:211-5. 31. Bombardieri G, Milani A, Bernardi L, Rossi L. Curr Ther Res 1985;37:580-5. 32. Mato JM, Cámara J, Fernández J, et al. J Hepatol 1999;30:1081-9. |
| Does SAMe [S-adenosylmethionine] have health benefits on depression? |
