Ademetionine Health Article

Description

Ademetionine, also known as SAMe, is a specific form of the amino acid methionine known as S-adenosyl-methionine. The body manufactures it, and it is found in most tissues of the body. Ademetionine is essential for the formation of glutathione, a water-soluble peptide that helps the body fight free radicals. SAMe also helps the liver to process fats (protecting against a fatty liver) and is believed to play a role in protecting the body from heart disease. SAMe is a methyl donor, which means that it provides other molecules with methyl groups that are critical to their metabolism. In general, ademetionine raises the level of functioning of other amino acids in the body. Severe deficiencies of SAMe can cause problems with other important body functions, such as secretion of important hormones like melatonin, which plays a key role in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms.

General use

The synthetic formula of ademetionine has been hailed as an anti-aging formula because it is such a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that counteract the damaging effects of free radicals in human tissue. Ademetionine has been widely popularized recently, but it is not a recent discovery. In fact it was discovered in Italy in 1952, and has been widely researched over the past few decades. In the 1970s, Italian researchers investigating its properties as a treatment for schizophrenia discovered that it also had definite antidepressant properties. Ademetionine became a useful treatment only during the 1990s, however, when scientists found a way to stabilize it for research purposes. After that technological development, ademetionine could be sold as a medical supplement.

Ademetionine has been used successfully to treat depression, arthritis, schizophrenia, liver disease, peripheral neuropathy, and other illnesses. Many people who have these illnesses, particularly schizophrenia, peripheral neuropathy, and myelopathy, may have low blood levels of folic acid, vitamin B₁₂, and certain amino acids, particularly SAMe and those with which it interacts.

Pain relief

The effectiveness of ademetionine has been studied in clinical trials with human subjects. One six-week study compared SAMe to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is a popular form of pain relief in Europe. SAMe proved to be a more effective treatment.