What is SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)?

Research studies over the past five decades have unequivocally established the importance of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe). An endogenously produced compound that plays a critical role in cellular metabolism and function, SAMe is second only to ATP as the most important molecule in cell biology.

Although present in small amounts in food, our diet cannot supply enough to meet our body's requirements. The demand for SAMe may be higher in some conditions, suggesting the supplementation of this precious metabolite, which affects mood and cognition, liver and joint health, longevity, and stamina.  

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What is SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)? What is SAMe's Role in Human Health?

S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing physiologic compound synthesized from the amino acid L-methionine and adenosine triphosphate. It is one of the most active methyl donors produced in the human body and is involved in more than 100 biochemical pathways and specific processes.

The SAMe methylation reactions involve DNA, proteins, lipids, and hormones, impacting cellular function in countless ways, including neurotransmitter synthesis and membrane function. The availability of sufficient SAMe as a substrate for most methylation reactions is a crucial function of the one-carbon metabolism, a network of metabolic reactions essential for cell life.

Detoxification of tissues, energy production, immune function support, and maintaining and regulating gene expression are essential activities where SAMe is crucial, impacting mental well-being, cognition, control of inflammation, and tissue maintenance. 

With a long history of use in other countries as a prescription drug, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) was introduced into the US market in 1999 under the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act as an over-the-counter supplement and is nowadays a popular human dietary supplement. 

When supplemented, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) can support and regulate mood and brain functions, keeps the liver healthy, supports joint health, stamina, and longevity.1

Discover how Adonat Premium SAMe, the most important human methylator with an essential role in cell life, meets this market’s rising demand.

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Why is SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) so Important?

SAMe Holds Promise for Depression

Severe physiological complications often accompany decreased or low SAMe levels in biological fluids and tissues and have been associated with some altered body states, such as depression, cognitive impairment, liver function impairment, osteoarthritis, and other joint diseases.

SAMe deficiency may underlie the gradual hypomethylation of DNA that accompanies aging. As demonstrated by healthy adults, supplementation with SAMe can alleviate this hypomethylation.

One of the most recent research fields on SAMe is DNA methylation and epigenetics, a rapidly evolving field that studies many aspects of health and disease. Recent research has provided compelling evidence of how alterations in DNA methylation may be involved in aging and age-related diseases. Therefore, SAMe supplementation could provide a potential aid in countering these aging processes, slow them down, and support and influence our body’s essential functions, including cognitive function, memory, learning, and behavior.

Pre-clinical studies carried out by the team of Fuso et al. demonstrated that DNA demethylation, when reduced by aging or nutritional deficiencies, may at least be partially avoided or restored by SAMe administration.60,61 Therefore, there have been several attempts to use SAMe nutritional supplementation in clinical trials 
in cognitive performance in the elderly, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

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How Does SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) Work?

SAMe is the “linchpin” molecule in the transmethylation, transulfuration, and aminopropylation pathways that regulate or influence virtually every biochemical reaction in humans and animals. It is synthesized from ATP and methionine and participates in one-carbon metabolism and related metabolic pathways. 

  • As a potent methyl donor (CH3), SAMe controls gene expression, transcription, and genetic stability, making it crucial for brain health in aging and influencing mental and neurological homeostasis. Deficits in SAMe-related methylation can result in biochemical and cognitive deficits and depression status. SAMe also synthesizes neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine, contributing to mood and mental health. Additionally, it produces phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, which are essential for neuron myelin sheaths, enabling optimal brain functionality.
  • SAMe is further necessary for synthesizing polyamines that control cell growth, gene expression, and other vital functions.

  • Reduced or low levels of SAMe in the body can have severe physiological complications, including mood and cognitive disorders and liver and joint disorders. Therefore, the restoration of SAMe is good for promoting mood regulation (depression-like status), healthy joint function and pain relief, and optimal liver health.

  • SAMe also contributes to building strong joints, thanks to its synthesis of proteoglycans. It helps produce sulfur-containing
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What Causes SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) Deficiency?

SAMe is a physiological compound produced in the body by combining the essential amino acid methionine with adenosyl triphosphate (ATP), in the one-carbon metabolism pathway. The very small amounts present in foods cannot represent a source of SAMe, and its biosynthesis is only sustained by the availability of methionine amino acids and vitamins B12 and B9, which are essential for the right functioning of the cycle. Consequently, a lack of methionine, vitamin B12, and active folate, such as methylfolate (5-MTHF), can result in decreased SAMe synthesis, and impaired functionality in the methylation cycle. 

 

Moreover, the demand for SAMe, and consequently its potential deficiency, may be higher in some conditions. This demand typically decreases with age and in people with health disorders, such as compromised bone and joint health, depression, and various liver disorders, suggesting the need to supplement this precious metabolite, which affects mood and cognition, liver and joint health, longevity, and stamina. 

 

Despite the combination of SAMe with vitamin B12 and folate being a good choice, it is worth noting that consuming high doses of methionine amino acid does not increase the levels of SAMe and, on the contrary, is accompanied by certain toxicities.  

 

This is another reason why supplementing SAMe remains the safest way to counteract the body’s deficiency that can be experienced at a specific time. Therefore, people with conditions or deficiencies linked to SAMe should consider supplementing this metabolite to improve their overall health and well-being. 

HEALTHY HINTS: BASICS OF SAMe (S-ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE )

  • S-ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE (SAMe) IS AN ESSENTIAL NATURALLY-OCCURRING COMPOUND INVOLVED IN OVER 100 BIOCHEMICAL REACTIONS IN THE BODY.

  • SAMe WORKS AS A METHYLATING FACTOR IN THE BODY. THE DONATION OF METHYL GROUPS TO OTHER COMPOUNDS AND SUBSTRATES ALLOWS THE ACTIVATION OR ELIMINATION OF MANY SUBSTANCES.  

  • METHYLATION HAPPENS BILLIONS OF TIMES PER SECOND. IT IMPACTS AND AFFECTS MANY OF THE BODY’S SYSTEMS.  
  • SAMe AND METHYLATION GRADE DECREASE DURING LIFE AND PLAY A ROLE IN THE ONSET OF CERTAIN DISEASES AND AGING PROCESSES.
     
  • SAMe SUPPLEMENTATION BENEFITS HAVE BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED IN HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS. 
  • IN MOOD HEALTH, SAMe EFFICACY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN MORE THAN 40 CLINICAL TRIALS, ALSO TESTED VS ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS.
  • FLOURISHING RESEARCH ACTIVITY IS PRESENT ON SAMe BENEFITS IN ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA, MAINLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. 

  • THE JOINT-HEALTH EFFECT OF SAMe HAS BEEN EVALUATED ON MORE THAN 22.000 PARTICIPANTS IN CLINICAL TRIALS IN EUROPE AND THE USA, WITH 2 DIFFERENT META-ANALYSES ON PAIN REDUCTION AND FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS  VS NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDs) 

  • SAMe HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFICACY AND SAFETY PROFILE IN MAJOR SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND META-ANALYSES IN CHRONIC LIVER CONDITIONS OF DIFFERENT ETIOLOGIES.  

Addressing Lifelong Challenges with SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)

  • Generation Z (starting from age 18) seeks personalized solutions to optimize mental focus, energy, and overall mood and mitigate the impact of lifestyle factors (alcohol, smoking, and stress). SAMe supports memory, concentration, energy, brain, detoxification, fitness, and mobility, empowering students and younger workers to proactively approach their well-being.  

  • Millennials (28 – 43 years of age) navigate modern life’s demands, juggling work, family, and personal goals. Millennials thrive in the contemporary world through a personalized, holistic approach to health and wellness. SAMe helps maintain their mental clarity, emotional resilience, and overall vitality while upholding their sustainability and mindful living values. Its nootropic effects, joint support, and metabolic benefits meet Millenials’ needs.

     

  • Gen X (44 – 59 years of age), or the “sandwich generation,” balances work, family, and aging parents. They seek proactive solutions to overall well-being and sustain health span. SAMe’s comprehensive benefits enable this group to enhance cognitive function, regulate stress and mood, support antioxidant functions, protect joints, and optimize metabolism to face life’s demands and embrace longevity.

     

  • Boomers (60+ years of age) seek to counteract aging, supporting cognition, vitality, joint mobility, and overall well-being. SAMe’s mood-elevating, liver-protecting, and anti-inflammatory benefits empower them to maintain active lifestyles and embrace healthy aging with renewed vigor. With SAMe, they can stay sharp, move freely, manage joint pain, and approach each day with a positive mindset. 

 

Young Adults & Students

SAMe supplementation can help young adults, and students counteract the effects of stress and environmental factors. It can help them maintain mood stability, cognitive function, and overall functionality as they face academic, career, or social challenges, and it can also provide nootropic support. Supplements such as SAMe may be a proactive measure for long-term optimal health, protecting both the brain and joint and liver tissue and functionalities.  

Adults In The Workforce

SAMe supplementation may enhance the cognitive function of working adults, supporting their ability to accomplish professional and personal goals with ease. SAMe can aid in regulating mood while enhancing energy levels, endurance, and productivity. This can result in an overall increase in the quality of life and impact on physical and mental health in the workplace. 

Women & Aging

Women experience several physiological transitions during life and as they age, making them more susceptible to changes in their mental and physical health. Supplements containing SAMe can help boost mood and cognitive well-being, allowing women to maintain social connections and a healthy work-life balance. Supporting cell metabolism and functionality, SAMe may also contribute to additional anti-aging functions. 

Elderly People

SAMe levels decrease with age, making SAMe supplementation particularly beneficial for the elderly. Critical in producing neurotransmitters, SAMe addresses cognitive health, such as memory and processing speed, and reduces the risk of cognitive decline.  

The wide-ranging benefits of SAMe contribute to better physical and cognitive function in older adults and help them maintain their physical and mental independence as people age. 

 

SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine ) Opportunities in The Market

In an era of evolving consumer demands, the need for multifaceted, personalized nutrition solutions has never been more pressing. S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) stands out as the most crucial compound produced by each cell in the body. It is essential for sustaining methylation, a fundamental process for life. SAMe supplementation offers a natural solution to support whole-body health when there is less availability or an increased need.

SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) Clinical Validation

MOOD HELP: Recent meta-analyses have examined the efficacy of SAMe supplementation mood conditions. One review of 14 trials with 1,522 subjects found that SAMe, at doses from 200 to 3,200 mg over 2 to 12 weeks, provided relief of depressive symptoms comparable to some pharmaceuticals. Another meta-analysis of 23 trials and 2,183 participants concluded that SAMe supplementation may offer moderate therapeutic benefit in alleviating depressive symptoms.  

 

JOINT HEALTH: SAMe has been mainly tested in multiple studies on compromised joint health at suitable dosages versus placebo and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Placebo-controlled clinical trials suggest it is more effective than a placebo for reducing pain in mild to moderate osteoarthritis. A meta-analysis and a systematic review concluded that pain reduction and functional improvements were not significantly different from those of NSAIDs.

References

1. (Bottiglieri T. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76(5):1151S-7S; Sharma A et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2017; 78(6):e656-e667) 

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