S-adenosylmethionine is also known as ademetionine, SAM, or SAMe. The "e" in SAMe designates that SAM is endogenous. SAMe is a naturally occurring substance that functions as a methyl donor in methyl-transferase reactions for phospholipids, neurotransmitters, proteins, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
Uses and Benefits:
SAMe is mainly used for osteoarthritis and depression. It has been widely accepted in European countries, where it first became popular as a therapeutic agent in the 1980s. SAMe has also been employed to treat intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches, and for a variety of other conditions.
Pharmacology:
SAMe is formed by the amino acid methionine and adenosyltriphosPhate (ATP); it is not an essential nutrient in humans. Endogenously, folic acid and vitamin are required for its synthesis. SAMe may offer chondroprotective properties by enhancing synthesis of proteoglycans in articular chondrocytes. SAMe may also inhibit tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) which is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the patho
