A difficult name to remember for a substance that, properly integrated, makes the transition into middle age easier by proving to be a valuable support in alleviating so many of those symptoms of discomfort that, at a certain stage of our lives, can undermine our serenity. S-adenosyl methionine, otherwise known as SAMe, is produced naturally by our central nervous system and was discovered by Italian researcher Giulio Cantoni who, in 1952, first isolated the molecule. I'll add just a couple of lines of big words and, to do so, I draw on the scientific studies that tell us that ademethionine (and that's another one of its names!) is a compound necessary "for the production of important substances in the brain, such as neurotransmitters, and promotes their binding to receptor sites, which increases serotonin and dopamine activity and increases the fluidity of the brain cell membrane" (M. T. Murray, A Medical Guide to Dietary Supplements, Milan 2005).

All clear, no?

Simply put, SAMe is a substance that the body uses to synthesize and produce neurotransmitters and enhance the activity of serotonin, also known as the "happiness hormone" (and that's all I'm adding), and dopamine, which is linked to feelings of contentment and plays an important role in motor skills and cognitive functions. Here, without going into more specifics and writing a chemistry treatise, it now seems clear to me that SAMe is directly related to the formation of central nervous system neurotransmitters involved in mood. The passage is this: good mood and emotional balance also depend on the efficiency and quantity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine which, in turn, depend on the level of SAMe present in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Concentrations of this substance are very high in the early stages of life, but they tend to decrease as the years go by and under special conditions such as work stress or vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, which is why its supplementation can prove to be a valuable support in improving mood and beyond. SAMe is the subject of continuous studies because it seems to have positive effects on liver function, osteoarthritis and fibriomyelgia, and even asthma. For my part, my interest in this substance focuses on its ability to:

• Increase the levels and activity of serotonin, dopamine and phosphatidylserine.
• Improve brain cell membrane fluidity and function.

In fact, based on the results of clinical studies, it appears that SAMe is the most effective natural antidepressant with better results than conventional antidepressant drugs and fewer side effects.

A molecule of happiness, in short, which, as is almost always the case, does not come from afar, but is born with us. Who better than she can know how to make us cheerful again?