A continuous cycle of biochemical reactions occurs within the cells of your body. Every human depends on this activity for continued survival and normal functioning. However, these same biochemical reactions also produce harmful byproducts called free radicals that can cause permanent damage to cells and lead to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Fortunately, your body also produces powerful antioxidants, such as glutathione and SAM-e, that help eliminate free radicals. Nonetheless, though they seem to have a similar purpose, there are some differences between these two major antioxidants.
What is SAM-e?
S-adenosyl methionine or SAM-e is a chemical that naturally occurs in the body, developed from a combination of methionine and adenosine triphosphate. First discovered in 1954, SAM-e is an amino acid that functions as a methyl group donor in several biochemical reactions. SAM-e is involved in the synthesis of many different biological compounds, such as cell membrane lipids, proteins, hormones and neurotransmitters. Aside from this, SAM-e as an antioxidant has been used to treat a wide range of psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and other diseases, MedlinePlus notes.
What is Glutathione?
Unlike the amino acid SAM-e, glutathione is a protein derived from three separate amino acids, namely, glycine, cysteine and glutamic acid, Mark Hyman, M.D., explains. Its biological functions are also distinctly different from SAM-e. Produced in the liver, glutathione transports amino acids across cell membranes and into cells. It plays a fundamental role in the production of DNA and the maintenance of the immune system. When it comes into contact with drugs, glutathione helps make them more water-soluble, thereby easing their absorption. However, like SAM-e, glutathione is an antioxidant that can possibly help alleviate several types of physical disorders.
Diseases Affected by Glutathione and SAM-e
Generally, both glutathione and SAM-e help combat damage to your body caused by oxidative stress, since they are both antioxidants. However, there is a difference in the diseases that they each address. SAM-e has been under study for its effects on disorders such as depression, heart disease, anxiety, osteoarthritis, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. It has also been used for chronic fatigue syndrome, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and multiple sclerosis.
Glutathione, on the other hand, has been reportedly used to treat Parkinson's disease, liver cancer, sickle cell anemia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, heart attack, stroke and diabetes, as a 2004 study published in the "Journal of Nutrition" notes. Deficiency in glutathione increases the risk of these diseases.
Link Between SAM-e and Glutathione
Your body's levels of SAM-e can directly affect the amounts of glutathione, a 2008 study in the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease" asserts. The researchers found that withholding and administering SAM-e to animal subjects corresponded to respective drops and elevations in their glutathione activity levels. The study concluded that activities involving glutathione rely to some extent upon prior SAM-e dependent reactions, and therefore SAM-e has a direct effect on glutathione. Since Alzheimer's is accompanied by decreased glutathione and SAM-e activity, this finding emphasizes the connectivity and importance of these two antioxidants in maintaining neuronal health.
References
- Dr. Mark Hyman: Essential Glutathione: The Mother of All Antioxidants
- MedlinePlus Supplements; SAMe; March 2011
- Journal of Alzheimer's Disease; "S-adenosylmethionine mediates glutathione efficacy by increasing glutathione S-transferase activity: implications for S-adenosyl methionine as a neuroprotective dietary supplement."; Tchantchou F.; July 2008
- Journal of Nutrition; "Glutathione Metabolism and Its Implications for Health"; Guoyau Wu et al; March 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center; S-adenosylmethionine; December 2009
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