| S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) |
Purpose: This site provides the latest S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) research and Internet pricing with a directory of many web sites offering SAM-e. S-adenosylmethionine offers potential relief for those suffering from conditions such as Depression, Arthritis, common joint pain, and syndromes such as CFS and FMS.
Information: What is S-adensosylmethionine?
S-adenosylmethionine Research/Treatments:1. SAM-e - Twice the Results2. SAM-e & Arthritis 3. S-adenosylmethionine Treatment of Depression |
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This all-natural product may just replace even the most popular treatments currently being used for joint pain and depression, without many of the negative side-effects they usually bring. Not a prescription drug or an herb, SAMe (S-adenosyl- methionine) is a synthetic replication of a compound that the body makes naturally from methionine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods. It works in the body to help maintain cell membranes, maintain cartilage, remove toxins, and produce the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. It is this dopamine and serotonin production that aids in depression; Dr. Richard Brown, a psychiatrist at Columbia University calls SAMe, "the best anti-depressant I've ever prescribed." The benefits keep getting better: SAMe's almost immediate results have shown to be effective in treating mild "blues" and major depression, WITHOUT the nagging side effects (constipation, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction) of some popular, prescription anti-depressants.
SAMe was first given to patients for use in treating depression, but when some of those same patients began to
report relief from osteoarthritis joint pain, researchers began to study this second benefit of the product. Over 22,000
arthritis sufferers reported, after only four weeks of treatment, that SAMe gave comparable results to NSAID pain
relievers like ibuprofen. The vital distinction is that instead of causing stomach upset like NSAIDs often do, SAMe
may actually protect the stomach lining. Furthermore, animal studies show that SAMe could help restore damaged
cartilage in addition to relieving pain. The gentle, effective healing benefits of SAMe may appear to be "too good to
be true" to some – yet they only need ask those who are living with less pain and experiencing relief from the oppressive
weight of depression – they're likely to tell you that taking SAMe has changed their lives. What better truth than that?
Material for this article from Newsweek, March 22, 1999
Information from this article from Newsweek, March 22, 1999 and July 5, 1999.
BACK to topThousands Ease Arthritis Suffering with SAM-e!
By Stacey Booth
Can SAM-e:
· Stimulate cartilage regrowth,
· Lubricate joints,
· Relieve pain, swelling and stiffness,
· Increase energy, and
· Have a greater sense of health and well-being?
While it may sound impossible, over 22,000 arthritis sufferers have experienced these benefits in a dozen documented research trials of just one product: SAM-e. Not a prescription drug or an herb, SAM-e (S-adenosyl- methionine) is a synthetic replication of a compound that the body makes naturally from methionine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods. Used is Europe for over twenty years, SAM-e is just beginning to make national headlines in publications like Newsweek magazine and the Los Angeles Times and in books and on major television networks for its positive effect on depression, joint pain and liver function. The Arthritis Foundation recently released a statement saying that they support SAM-e is able to "provide pain relief" and are evaluating its ability to "contribute to joint health."
How Does it Work"?
The key to understanding the way SAM-e works is by recognizing
its role in a process called methylation. Methylation happens
a billion times a second throughout the body and is responsible
for, among other things, the regulation of neurotransmitters
that allow brain cells to communicate, preserving bone health
and protecting against heart disease. Simply put, a molecule
in the body "gives up" a methyl group comprised of
four atoms to another molecule, changing both the original molecule
and the recipient of the methyl group in the process. SAM-e is
the most robust of all methyl donors, which is good news, however,
the story does not stop here. Once a SAM-e molecule donates its
methyl group, it breaks down to form homocysteine, a potentially
dangerous molecule that is kept in check through B-vitamins stored
in the cells that actually convert homocysteine into an important
antioxidant called glutathione. Without SAM-e, the body literally
could not make enough glutathione, which is responsible for detoxifying
the liver, protecting DNA, boosting the immune system, and, most
important to those with arthritis, reducing inflammation.
Pain Relief Without Dangerous Side Effects
A common prescription for arthritis pain is an NSAID-type pain reliever such a naproxen or ibuprofen. These sometimes work to help alleviate the pain, but with the dangerous "gain" of gastrointestinal disorders, which can lead to internal bleeding, ulcers, and in rare cases, death. Eight thousand people in the U.S. die each year as a result of bleeding from NSAIDs. Furthermore, some NSAIDs may actually accelerate the destruction of cartilage - thereby worsening arthritis's symptoms.
SAM-e offers pain relief equal to NSAIDs, as well as relieving inflammation and swelling, with extremely minimal side effects. The American Journal of Medicine published an entire issue on the effects of SAM-e and Osteoarthritis in 1987, from which the following statement was excerpted: "From these trials SAM-e appears to be effective in pain relief and remarkably free from serious side effects."
Major Research Studies Support SAM-e
· A clinical trial in Germany researched over 20,000 patients
with osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, spine and fingers and
were given SAM-e for a total of eight weeks. The post-trial evaluation
found that 80% of patients reported a reduction in symptoms in
all arthritic sites. Researchers noted that SAM-e "indicates
a very high level of drug safety in the field of antirheumatics."
· The results of a two-year trial involving ten physicians
were reported by a doctor from the Institute of General Medicine,
University of Mainz, Germany. 108 patients with osteoarthritis
of the knee, hip and spine were given SAM-e, resulting in more
than 90% of the physicians and 85% of the patients rated the
efficacy of SAM-e as "very good" or "good."
An added benefit: patients reported relief from depression, a
common side-effect of chronic illness, such as arthritis.
· The University School of Medicine, Orthopedics Clinics,
in Milan, Italy, compared the effectiveness of SAM-e with placebo
and naproxen, a common NSAID. Conducted at 33 different medical
centers, 734 patients found that 1200mg of SAM-e gave the SAM-e
pain relief as 750mg of naproxen, both of which performed better
than placebo. Although the naproxen relieved the pain slightly
more rapidly, SAM-e was rated the superior choice for pain relief,
due to its minimal side effects, as compared to the NSAID.
Cartilage Care and Regrowth
Although studies are preliminary, evidence strongly suggests that SAM-e not only protects cartilage from further destruction, it may actually help to stimulate new cartilage growth. Animal studies have shown that SAM-e increases the production of chrondrocytes, the cartilage-producing cells in joints. The theory is, the greater the number of chondrocytes, the greater the amount of cartilage your body can produce. A study in Germany found that 14 patients with osteoarthritis of the finger were given 400mg of SAM-e daily for three months. At the end of the study, those taking SAM-e (compared to placebo) showed a small but significant cartilage increase.
Natural Joint Lubricant
SAM-e helps prevent the breakdown of proteoglycans, the molecules
in cartilage that hold onto water, giving cartilage much of its
flexibility. It is when a joint becomes arthritic that the proteoglycans
begin to break down, making the joint unstable. Dr. Richard Brown,
author of a major book on SAM-e and its benefits, "Stop
Depression Now," calls SAM-e's ability to protect joint
health, "…like putting oil in the Tin Man's joints."
Which SAM-e Should I Take and How Much?
Not all SAM-e is created equal and those who wish to make SAM-e
a part of their supplementation program should look for two distinctive
qualities before purchasing: type and coating. First, full-strength
SAM-e is in a form called butanedisulfonate, which should not
be confused with tosylate or SAM-e sulfate. Second, look for
SAM-e tablets that are enteric coated, meaning that the tablets
pass through the acidic environment of the stomach intact, and
can be absorbed most efficiently by the body. Lastly, the amounts
used in various SAM-e studies varies widely; to begin, experts
advise taking two 200mg SAM-e tablets daily on an empty stomach.
There are no dangerous interactions with SAM-e, however, those
currently taking prescribed antidepressants should consult their
physician before taking SAM-e.
Start Feeling Better Today
The gentle, effective healing benefits of SAM-e may appear to
be "too good to be true" to some - yet they only need
ask those who are living with less pain and experiencing relief
from many other symptoms of arthritis - they're likely to tell
you that taking SAM-e has changed their lives. What better truth
than that?
Sources:
1. Brown, Richard, M.D., Bottiglieri, Ph.D., Colman, Carol, Stop
Depression Now. New York, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999.
2. Cowley, Geoffrey, Underwood, Anne. "What is SAM-e?"
Newsweek magazine, July 5, 1999.
3. Jacob, Stanley, W. M.D., Lawrence, Ronald M., M.D., Ph. D.,
Zucker, Martin. The Miracle of MSM. New York, G. P. Putnam's
Sons, 1999.
4. Balch, James F., Ph.D., Balch, Phyllis A. C.N.C. Prescription
for Nutritional Healing. New York, Avery Publishing Group, 1993.
BACK to top
The antidepressant properties of S-adenosylmethionine, an endogenous methyl donor, were studied in inpatients who met the DSM-III criteria for major depression. Nine patients given intravenous S-adenosylmethionine and nine given low oral doses of imipramine were compared in a double-blind design for 14 days. The S-adenosylmethionine produced superior results by the end of the first week of treatment. By the end of the second week, 66% of the S-adenosylmethionine patients had a clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms, compared to 22% of the imipramine patients. Side effects appeared to be fewer with S-adenosylmethionine than with imipramine during the last 5 days of the study.
Source: Reprinted with permission from the Life Extension Foundation.
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