Adenosine Monophosphate

What is it?

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

Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

Rating

Health Concerns

Photosensitivity

Shingles

Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
2Stars

Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
1Star

For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit.

Are there any side effects or interactions?

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 Adenosine Monophosphate.

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What is it?

Where is it found?

Who is likely to be deficient?

How much is usually taken?

Are there any side effects or interactions?