S-Methylmethionine

S-Methylmethionine, or S-methyl- L -methionine, is a derivative of methionine with chemical formula C6H15NO2S. In plants, it is produced from methionine by the enzyme methionine S-methyltransferase.

S-Methylmethionine is sometimes called vitamin U in naturopathic medicine, but it is not recognized as a vitamin by mainstream nutrition science. Methionine in itself has not been demonstrated as effective for treating peptic and duodenal ulcers. Its proponents claim that sources of methionine are limited, or claim it can be found only in raw cabbage; however, these claims are incorrect. Methionine is a common amino acid found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

Origins of "Vitamin U"
Garnett Cheney, M.D. demonstrated in the 1950s that fresh, raw cabbage juice could significantly increase the rate of healing in patients with gastrointestinal ulceration, and his work was published in peer reviewed journals.

In 1952, he had 100 peptic ulcer patients drink 4 glasses of fresh, raw cabbage juice daily. This was in place of surgery or drug therapy, with otherwise no alterations in diet. Self-reports from patients indicated dramatically reduced pain, while x-rays demonstrated significantly reduced healing time. 81% of the patients were symptom-free within one week, and over two thirds were better within four days. Note that the average healing time for peptic uler patients given standard hospital treatment in 1952 was over a month.

Dr. Cheney went on further to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers with raw cabbage juice, with similar results.

Dr. Cheney found that he could not bring on the same results when the cabbage juice was not fresh, and that heated cabbage juice was completeley ineffective. Hence, it was understood that an unknown, heat-sensitive substance was responsible for the results.

Dr. Cheney dubbed the unidentified substance(s) responsible for the rapid healing, "Vitamin U", although this is not recognised as a vitamin, rather merely a name.