S-adenosyl- -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- -methionine (SAM) has been carried out by oral administration of the liposoluble stable salt methyl-¹⁴C, 8-³H]SAM N-ole-1-oyltaurate to rats. The SAM sulfate p-toluensulfonate salt, the only SAM salt at present commercialized as drug, was chosen as reference compound to have a comparative pharmacokinetic analysis. The metabolism of the SAM is characterised by a differential use of the two labelled moieties by the various organs, liver being the most active in metabolizing the sulfonium compound with a preferential uptake of the methyl-¹⁴C fragment. The radioactivity detected after the administration of methyl-¹⁴C, 8-³H]SAM N-ole-1-oyltaurate is, in all the organs examined, two times higher than the methyl-¹⁴C, 8-³H]SAM sulfate p-toluensulfonate compound, attesting that the liposoluble methyl-¹⁴C, 8-³H]SAM N-ole-1-oyltaurate is provided with better bioavailability.