S-adenosylmethionine prevents total parenteral nutrition-induced cholestasis in the rat

Both an excess and an imbalance of amino acids have been associated with total parenteral nutrition-induced cholestasis. The present study was undertaken to further our understanding of this condition in light of observations that methyl donor amino acids may be protective. Rats were maintained on Travasol ® (3.4 g amino acids/24 h) and dextrose (10.2 g/24 h) with and without the “active methyl” S-adenosylmethionine at a dose of 75 mg/kg/24 h for 5 days, and compared to control rats on dextrose alone (10.2 g/24 h) with free access to rat chow. Bile flow ( μl/min) was lower ( p