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Adenosine Monophosphate: What does it do?
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is an intermediary substance formed during the body’s
process of creating energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from food.
AMP may play a role in limiting postherpetic neuralgia, which is the pain that sometimes
lingers after a bout of shingles (herpes
zoster). One double-blind study involving 32 adults with shingles found that injections of AMP
given three times per week for a month following a flare-up of shingles relieved the pain more
quickly than placebo.1 Whether oral supplementation would have the same effect
remains unclear. AMP also helps heal the lesions and prevents recurrence of pain or
lesions.
Nineteen out of twenty-one people with porphyria cutanea tarda (a disease that develops in
adulthood and causes photosensitivity, among
other symptoms) responded well to 160-200 mg of AMP per day taken for at least one month,
according to one group of researchers.2 Partial and even complete alleviation of
photosensitivity associated with this condition occurred in several people.
A closely related molecule to AMP, adenosine, affects electrical signaling in the heart.
Intravenous adenosine has been used successfully to treat children with tachycardia, a
condition in which the heart beats too quickly.3 Intravenous adenosine has also
been reported to help most elderly people with tachycardia.4
Adenosine is formed by heart muscle when the oxygen supply is low,5 and it
improves the efficiency of the heart.6 Adenosine has also been reported to improve
the heart’s ability to use blood sugar for energy during stress.7
Where is Adenosine Monophosphate found?
The body creates AMP within cells during normal metabolic processes. AMP is also found as a
supplement, although it is not widely available.
Who is likely to be deficient of Adenosine Monophosphate?
Preliminary research suggests that people with herpes simplex or herpes zoster (shingles) infections may have low levels of AMP;
however, the clinical significance of this finding is unclear.8
How much Adenosine Monophosphate is usually taken?
The trials using AMP for photosensitivity
have used 160–200 mg of AMP per day; however, the ideal intake of this supplement has
not been determined. Research with shingles
has used a special gel form of AMP injected into muscle; a doctor should be consulted for this
form of AMP.
Are there any side effects or interactions with Adenosine Monophosphate?
The limited number of human studies involving oral AMP have not indicated any side effects.
However, some researchers have expressed concern that supplemental intake of AMP could, in
theory, increase levels of adenosine, a substance related to AMP that may interfere with immune function.9 Doctors using AMP
injections report that too-rapid intravenous administration or inadvertent administration of
an intramuscular injection into a vein could cause life-threatening arrhythmias of the
heart.10
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with .
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Copyright © 2004 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved.
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational
purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in
vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article.
The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of
the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter
medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or
pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before
making any changes in prescribed medications.
References:
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