SAMe and detoxification
Several rat studies have confirmed that maintaining the level of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) can effectively protect the liver.
Acetaminophen (tylenol) is well-known for causing hepatotoxicity.
In mouse experiments, if SAMe is supplemented within one hour after administration of high-dose acetaminophen, the phenomenon of death can be completely eliminated.
If replenished within five hours, the mortality rate will significantly reduced.
Rats treated with sulfur tetrachloride would develop severe free radical damage similar to that of alcohol poisoning, while administration of SAMe could significantly reduce collagen deposition damage.
What is mechanism of action of SAMe?
It works by raising or maintaining the level of glutathione.
In 1991, Spanish researchers confirmed that SAMe could taken up by human liver cells and converted into glutathione.
It reported in the journal Toxicology that if S-Adenosyl-L-methionine is supplemented simultaneously with alcohol (which can significantly deplete glutathione), glutathione levels can maintained.
Although there have been hundreds of studies on the protective effect of SAMe on the liver in rodents, human research is relatively scarce.
There mainly two reasons for this: liver biopsy is not widespread, and S-Adenosyl-L-methionine has not yet patented.
Several human studies conducted outside the United States have indeed shown that the SAMe effect observed in rodent experiments also holds true in humans.
Some of the research results published in the 1990 supplement to "Drugs" titled "Advances in the Treatment of Liver Diseases".
SAMe and fatty liver
The liver is the central hub of molecules that are responsible for transporting lipids (lipoproteins) within the body.
This is also the site where very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and cholesterol are synthesized.
Cholesterol is a precursor of important steroid hormones such as estrogen, DHEA, androgens and glucocorticoids.
It is also part of bile, which acts as a natural detergent to combat dietary fats.
Although cholesterol has a bad reputation, it is actually a very important substance.
Cirrhosis can lead to fat infiltration, that is, the accumulation of lipid pools in the liver. SAMe can prevent and cure this disease.
Rats were the first experimental subjects to experience the lipid-lowering benefits of the SAMe.
In a study on rodents published in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, when SAMe administered simultaneously with alcohol, the occurrence of fatty liver could completely prevented.
A study involving 37 patients with fatty liver, hepatitis and liver cirrhosis showed that after intravenous injection of 150 milligrams of SAMe, the fat tissue of 3 patients completely disappeared, and the fat content of the remaining patients significantly decreased within 15 days.
Research teams from both Italy and Spain have confirmed these results.
SAMe can not only prevent fat accumulation in the liver, but also prevent the increase of lipids related to liver cirrhosis outside the liver.
The blood cells of patients with liver cirrhosis have a relatively high ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids, which can lead to abnormal cell function.
Kidney problems, bleeding and anemia in patients with liver cirrhosis can all traced back to cell membrane dysfunction.
The quality of cell function depends on the integrity of its membrane structure.
Cell membranes require an appropriate amount of fluidity to function properly, and fluidity depends on lipids.
Excessive cholesterol can cause the membrane structure to harden, while an excessive amount of phosphatidylcholine can make the membrane structure spread out like a water pancake.
The cholesterol content in the cell membranes of patients with liver diseases is too high. A research team in the UK has confirmed that SAMe can significantly lower cholesterol levels.
After two weeks of oral SAMe (1,600 mg) treatment, the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids in red blood cells of patients with liver diseases decreased significantly.
Studies also show that SAMe can lower plasma cholesterol levels.
After 30 minutes of SAMe infusion, the total lipid and cholesterol levels of 13 patients with hyperlipidemia significantly reduced.