S-adenosyl-L-methionine: effects on brain bioenergetic status and transverse relaxation time in healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
S-adenosyl-L-methionine is an effective treatment for clinical depression, although the mechanism underlying this effect is unclear. Presently, in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) and brain transverse relaxometry were employed to test if S-adenosyl-L-methionine supplementation alters brain bioenergetics and/or transverse relaxation time (T2RT) in a nondepressed cohort. If these magnetic resonance techniques are sensitive to S-adenosyl-L-methionine induced alterations in neurochemical processes, these methods may be used in cases of clinical depression to elucidate the mechanism underlying the antidepressant effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine.


METHODS
Twelve subjects self-administered 1600 mg of oral S-adenosyl-L-methionine daily. Phosphorus spectra and transverse relaxation time were acquired at baseline and after treatment using a 1.5 Tesla scanner.


RESULTS
Phosphocreatine levels were significantly higher after treatment, whereas beta nucleoside triphosphate levels, predominantly adenosine triphosphate in brain, were significantly lower after treatment. A surprising gender difference in T2RT emerged after supplementation, with women exhibiting significantly lower T2RT than men.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in phosphocreatine and beta nucleoside triphosphate are consistent with the report that S-adenosyl-L-methionine is involved in the production of creatine, which in turn is phosphorylated to phosphocreatine using adenosine triphosphate. These findings suggest that S-adenosyl-L-methionine alters parameters associated with cerebral bioenergetic status and that some effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (T2RT) occur in a gender-specific manner.
Silveri
Marisa M
MM
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Parow
Aimee M
AM
Villafuerte
Rosemond A
RA
Damico
Karen E
KE
Goren
Jessica
J
Stoll
Andrew L
AL
Cohen
Bruce M
BM
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012063:Relaxation; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D010758:Phosphorus; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate