S-adenosyl-L-methionine N-ole-1-oyltaurate: pharmacokinetic of the orally administered salt in rats

A pharmacokinetic study based on the distribution of radioactivity from the double labelled S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) has been carried out by oral administration of the liposoluble stable salt [methyl-C-14, 8-H-3]SAM N-ol e-l-oyltaurate to rats. The SAM sulfate p-toluensulfonate salt, the only SA M salt at present commercialized as drug, was chosen as reference compound to have a comparative pharmacokinetic analysis. The metabolism of the SAM i s characterised by a differential use of the two labelled moieties by the v arious organs, liver being the most active in metabolizing the sulfonium co mpound with a preferential uptake of the methyl-C-14 fragment. The radioact ivity detected after the administration of [methyl-C-14, 8-H-3]SAM N-ole-l- oyltaurate is, in all the organs examined, two times higher than the [methy l-C-14, 8-H-3]SAM sulfate p-toluensulfonate compound, attesting that the li posoluble [methyl-C-14, 8-H-3]SAM N-ole-l-oyltaurate is provided with bette r bicavailability. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.