Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) as a dietary supplement
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is a naturally occurring substance in the body that plays a role in creating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy carrier in cells. As a dietary supplement, AMP is promoted for various potential health benefits, although there is no established nutritional requirement for it since the body produces it naturally. Some proposed uses of AMP include treatment for cold sores, shingles, photosensitivity, wound healing, irregular heartbeat, skin health, and alleviating cancer symptoms. Preliminary studies suggest that AMP, particularly in injected form, may help alleviate pain from shingles and improve wound healing, but evidence remains limited and further research is necessary to confirm these effects. While oral AMP supplementation has been explored, its absorption and effectiveness in this form are still uncertain. Overall, AMP has shown promise in certain therapeutic contexts, but caution is advised, especially regarding its use in vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant or nursing women, as safety has not been thoroughly established.
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) as a dietary supplement
DEFINITION: Natural substance promoted as a dietary supplement for specific health benefits.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Cold sores, photosensitivity, postherpetic neuralgia, shingles, wound healing, irregular heartbeat, skin health, cancer symptoms
Overview
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is a substance the body creates to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a source of energy used throughout the body. ATP is so ubiquitous in the body that it is sometimes called the body’s energy currency. Based on preliminary evidence, AMP has been recommended to treat cold sores, shingles, and photosensitivity. It may also help wound healing, irregular heartbeat, and skin health.
Sources
There is no nutritional requirement for AMP because the body already manufactures it.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical recommended dose of AMP is 100 to 200 milligrams daily. However, it is unclear that AMP can be absorbed orally, and most studies have involved an injected form of the substance.
Therapeutic Uses
In adults, infection by the virus herpes zoster (which causes chickenpox) can cause shingles. The initial shingles attack generally abates in a couple of weeks, but symptoms can become chronic. This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Some evidence hints that people with herpes zoster infection may have lower-than-normal levels of AMP. On this slim basis, AMP has been studied as a possible treatment for initial shingles symptoms and for preventing PHN.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of thirty-two people with shingles, AMP was injected three times a week for four weeks. At the end of the treatment period, 88 percent of those treated with AMP were pain-free versus only 43 percent in the placebo group; all participants still in pain were then given AMP, and no recurrence of pain was reported in three to eighteen months of follow-up. However, this was a preliminary study, and more evidence is needed before AMP can be considered a proven treatment for shingles or PHN. Furthermore, oral AMP has not been tried for this condition. It is questionable whether AMP taken orally actually survives intact in the body.
Another study found weak evidence that injected AMP might be helpful for cold sores. However, this study was open, and the placebo effect and other confounding factors could have played a significant role. For this reason, its results cannot be relied upon. Another open study hints that AMP, this time in an oral form, might be helpful for people with excessive sensitivity to the sun (photosensitivity) associated with a condition called porphyria cutanea tarda. Further, research has shown promising potential applications in the human diet in regulating food intake and minimizing the risk of obesity.
Other areas that appear to benefit from supplementation with AMP include wound healing, skin health, irregular heartbeat, and cancer symptoms. Patients with AMP injected into their muscle tissue found their wounds less inflamed and less likely to retain fluid or itch. AMP has also been shown to aid skin health by promoting health circulation and reducing the prevalence of ulcers and redness. When given as an intravenous prescription medication, AMP has been shown to help treat irregular heart rhythms. Finally, intravenous treatment with AMP may help increase appetite and improve the quality of life for end-stage cancer patients.
Safety Issues
In human studies, oral AMP has not been associated with any side effects. However, it has been suggested that the use of supplemental AMP could potentially decrease immunity. Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Bibliography
"Adenosine: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions." RxList, www.rxlist.com/supplements/adenosine.htm. Accessed 4 Sept. 202
Levy, Jillian. "Adenosine Benefits, Foods, Supplements and Side Effects." Dr. Axe, 24 Apr. 2023, draxe.com/nutrition/adenosine. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
Neumann, Dietbert, and Benoit Viollet. Amp-Activated Protein Kinase Signalling. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2019.
Sklar, S. H., et al. "Herpes Zoster: The Treatment and Prevention of Neuralgia with Adenosine Monophosphate." Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 253, 1985, pp. 1427-1430.
Wu, Zifang, et al. "Dietary Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate Supplementation Increases Food Intake and Remodels Energy Expenditure in Mice." Food & Nutrition Research, vol. 66, no. 10, 2022, doi:10.29219/fnr.v66.7680.