SAMe Has Neuroprotective Effects

ROMES-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a naturally occurring compound produced in the body from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and methionine, is known to play a role in immune, joint and neurological health, working in concert with vitamins B12, B6 and folate. Deficiencies in B vitamins can affect levels of SAMe, and are also associated with increases in homocysteine. There is also a connection between homocysteine levels and brain function, with Boston University researchers reporting in 2002 that increased plasma homocysteine levels are a strong risk factor for the development of dementia and Alzheimers disease (N Engl J Med. 2002;346(7):476-483)

In a new study, researchers from the University of Rome examined the effect of SAMe supplementation on homocysteine levels and oxidative stress in TgCRND8 mice with folate/B12/B6 deficiency (J Alzheimer Dis. July 2010;20(4):997-1002. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-091666). They found hyperhomocysteinemia correlated with an increased reduced/oxidized ratio of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione in the brain; it also was associated with decreased glutathione S-transferase activity and increased lipid peroxidation. However, SAMe upped the activity of glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutaseanother endogenous antioxidant enzyme, restoring altered glutathione levels in the brain and limiting oxidative stress. The team concluded SAMe serves as a neuroprotective compound, impacting methylation and oxidation metabolism.