"Two independent lines of inquiry have implicated some disturbance of one-carbon cycle metabolism in affective disorders. Folic acid deficiency commonly leads to depression, and S-adenosylmethionine has been reported to have antidepressant properties. Methionine adenosyltransferase has been reported to be underactive in depression and schizophrenia and overactive in mania. This study reports the effects on erythrocyte methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) kinetics (Vmax) of a 2-week treatment in a population of patients housed on a psychiatric research ward. The drug-free schizophrenic patients and depressives had, upon admission, low Vmax values, and the drug-free manic patients had high Vmax values on admission. After 2 weeks of appropriate treatment, the values for all three patient samples showed significant normalization (i.e., the levels rose in schizophrenics and depressives and fell in manics). We have further shown that pretreatment low levels of erythrocyte membrane phosphatidylcholine in depressives and high levels in manics show statistically significant normalization following 2 weeks of pharmacotherapy. The significance of these results is discussed."(1.)
"SAM-E (also known as SAM or AdoMet) is a derivative of the amino acid, methionine. It's formed when methionine combines with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a nucleotide present in all living cells. ATP is the major source of cellular energy. The liver uses this process to make SAM-E, as much as 8 grams of it every day, when the liver is perfectly healthy. Liver disease, osteoarthritis and the overuse of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications can diminish the body's production of SAM-E. A small amount of SAM-E is found in food, but it is highly unstable and an unreliable means of increasing blood levels." (2.)
"As a methyl donor, SAM-E "donates" units called methyl groups, which contain hydrogen and carbon atoms, to other substances. This process is called methylation, and it is one way in which the body protects itself from damage on the cellular level."(2.)
SAM-E facilitates the manufacture of brain neurotransmitters
"Methyl donors help to protect against cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, and many age-related problems, and facilitate the manufacture of DNA and brain neurotransmitters. SAM-E is involved in more than 50 methylation reactions in the body, including the regulation of various hormones and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine."(2.)
"Once SAM-E donates its methyl group to choline, creatine, carnitine, DNA, RNA, epinephrine, and other compounds, it is transformed into S-adenosyl-homocysteine, (SAH). SAH donates its sulfur molecule to sulfur-containing amino acids such as cysteine, from which glutathione is formed. SAH then gives up its adenosine molecule to yield homocysteine. Homocysteine is a potentially toxic amino acid and an independent risk factor for coronary disease. Folic acid, choline, or betaine can change homocysteine back to methionine in the presence of vitamin B12, or convert homocysteine into cysteine and glutathione in the presence of vitamin B6. For this reason, it is recommended to supplement your diet with vitamin B12 and B6 when taking SAM-E. SAM-E is particularly important for the liver because glutathione is synthesized from it. Glutathione is crucial for liver function. A good portion of liver SAM-E is turned into glutathione. Glutathione is the liver's natural antioxidant."(2.)
"The synthesis of SAMe is intimately linked with folate and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) metabolism, and deficiencies of both these vitamins have been found to reduce CNS SAMe concentrations. Both folate and vitamin B12 deficiency may cause similar neurological and psychiatric disturbances including depression, dementia, myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy. SAMe has a variety of pharmacological effects in the CNS, especially on monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism and receptor systems. SAMe has antidepressant properties, and preliminary studies indicate that it may improve cognitive function in patients with dementia."(3.)
"Several open and double-blind studies suggest that SAMe may have an anti-depressant effect, and further studies are indicated. SAMe may exert a beneficial effect selectively on endogenous rather than neurotic depression. SAMe crosses the blood-brain barrier. SAMe is involved in several central enzyme pathways relating to transmethylation and folate and monoamine metabolism as well as in membrane function and neuro-transmission." (4.)
Links:
(1.) Abnormalities of one-carbon metabolism in psychiatric disorders: study of methionine adenosyltransferase kinetics and lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes. Smythies JR, Alarcon RD, Morere D, Monti JA, Steele M, Tolbert LC, Walter-Ryan WG. Biol Psychiatry 1986 Dec;21(14):1391-8
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.same.html
(2.) http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/sam-e-1.htm
(3.) The clinical potential of ademetionine (S-adenosylmethionine) in neurological disorders. Bottiglieri T, Hyland K, Reynolds EH - Metabolic Disease Center, Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, Texas.
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.same.html
(4.) S-adenosylmethionine and affective disorder. Carney MW, Toone BK, Reynolds EH - Department of Psychiatry, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, England. Am J Med 1987 Nov 20;83(5A):104-6
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.same.html
--gjh
One Patient's story of non clinical and clinical diagnosis of Schizophrenic like symptoms, attempts at vitamin therapy approach, seizure activity present. We searched for answers & much of our research was beneficial in chronological context. Taken out of context, the information may not provide an accurate understanding/solution. Psychiatric illness was ruled out. This blog indicates how we arrived @ the current treatment -vitamin therapy. Diagnosis given: Fronto-temporal dementia.
LOW HISTAMINE
- This LOW HISTAMINE schizophrenia supplement schedule was developed to improve the quality of life of our family member-referred to as Patient. Once the FTD diagnosis was agreed, the patient was in late stages and soon hospitalized. The only supplement that was to have significant impact on FTD was DHEA in the early stages. THIS is not a recommendation and we make no claims this protocol will work for you. Always check with a qualified Doctor when making changes to your recovery protocols.
- 100mg L-Carnosine AM - scavenger of oxidative stress (ROS & alpha-beta unsaturated aldehydes), improves processes affected with autisim, found highly concentrated in muscle and brain tissue, quickly metabolizes blood levels of stress produced Cortisol returning levels to normal, too much Carnosine may cause hyperactivity.
- 100mg R-ALA (RLA) PM - Powerful antioxidant, reverse cognitive dysfunction, increases glutathione, "recycles" other key antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione, promotes glucose metabolism, proven effective for treating diabetic neuropathy, prevents nerve damage from oxidation.
- 2mg Melatonin PM-ONLY - counteracts TD, Improves sleep quality of chronic schizophrenia patients, suppresses prolactin release, necessary for SWS-REM sleep, stimulates endorphin production (updated from 1mg 12-9-06)
- 5mg DHEA AM Androgen occurring naturally in humans and synthesized from cholesterol. 5mg maintenance dose-no higher. Patient responded to larger 50mg dose in the past but then had significant side effects. Goal is to balance or restore normal level. Body does not upregulate its own levels when taken orally, so max total levels should not exceed natural 15 mg in body daily.
- 100mg CoQ10 AM Many useful antioxidant activities especially Schizophrenia, neuroprotective effects, potent free radical scavenger in lipid and mitochondrial membranes (increased from 30mg on 2-15-07)
- 800mg EPA-protein AM Balance with DHA
- 200mg Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine AM Counteracts Kryptopyrrole, break down and use fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, to make red blood cells and antibodies, to help the digestive and nervous systems function, maintain healthy skin. Converts to coenzyme P5P in body
- 800mg DHA-protein AM Balance with EPA
- 500mg per meal Vitamin B3 Niacin (no flush-slow release) AM Opens Capillaries, take after each meal, Removes voices, Needed for Omega EFA conversions to prostaglandins.
- 50-80mg Zinc AM Positive Factor for TD, inverse of Copper, Works closely with B6, promotes normal metallothionein, commonly out of balance with Copper
- 200mcg-600mcg Selenium AM Antidote for Mercury, Antioxidant, Antidepressant, Improves Prostaglandins
- 30mg Chelated Manganese PM Prevents Tardive (TD), increases elimination of copper and helps return copper levels to normal. Do not take with Calcium.
- 5,000mcg Vitamin B12 AM Improves RBC flow through Capillaries
- |AVOID| 200mg SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) Treats Undermethylation, was tested on this Patient and did not respond well, maintains cell membrane structure, substances vital to transmitting nerve impluses that influence mood and emotion
- |AVOID| 100mg L-Theanine - inhibits glutamic acid excitotoxicity, promotes GABA production, decreases serotonin and increases dopamine (BAD FOR PATIENT), promotes alpha wave production associated with alert relaxation (non drowsy), improves immune system response by boosting capacity of T cells, crosses blood brain barrier.
- Exercise & Diet - 30 minutes of walking per day
Contributors
