Super-Nutrient / Sam-e

Herb Of The Week / Super-Nutrient / Sam-e

Hey Everybody!!

After returning from a holiday trip (drove to St. Louis from
Houston), I was trying to figure should I wait .. AGAIN.. for
Saturday to post herb of the week .... or should I just go ahead and
post. I think it'd be best if I post today (Wednesday) this week and
Thursday next week and Friday the following week until I work it back
to Saturday.


Getting right to the point, the herb of the week is a truly
remarkable nutritional supplement known as SAM-E. This stuff is
remarkeable in that it is used for arthritis, liver damage and mood
control. Let me tell y'all about it. SAMe has been isolated from
yeast and purified. It is currently sold in Europe as an
antidepressant. Many clinical studies have been conducted with this
supplemental form of SAMe. It has been used in trials against
depression, osteoarthritis and other conditions. Of all the published
studies, the ones on the liver are perhaps the most comprehensive.

SAM-e was discovered in Italy in 1952-- not surprisingly, most of the
research on SAM has been conducted in the country of its discovery. S-
adenosylmethionine or SAM-e (pronounced "sammy") is a nutrient that
is normally and naturally manufactured by the human body. Our bodies
use an amino acid called methionine to produce SAM-e... but you
cannot increase your body's level of SAM-e by taking methionine. But
strangely, if your body is lacking in methionine, then its production
of SAM-e may also fall as a result. High doses of methionine do not
increase levels of SAM, nor do they provide the same pharmacological
activity as SAM. On the contrary, high dosages of methionine are
associated with some degree of toxicity.

Nevertheless SAM-e is a very, very important substance that is
involved in dozens of life giving metabolic processes within our
body.

SAM functions closely with folic acid and vitamin B12
in "methylation" reactions--the process of adding a single carbon
unit (a metyl group) to another molecule. SAM is extremely more
effective in this than many other "so-called" methyl donors.
Methylation reactions are critical in the manufacture of many body
components--- especially brain chemical --and in detoxification
reactions.

SAM is also required in the manufacture of all sulfur-containing
compounds in the human body, including glutathione and various sulfur-
containing cartilage components. The beneficial effects of SAM
supplementation are far-reaching because of its central role in so
many metabolic processes.


1)
SAM-e is crucial in the manufacture of important compounds found in
the brain, such as phosphatidylserine and neurotransmitters.
Phosphatidylserine itself is an essential nutrient for
cells...especially nerve cells where it is needed in high abundance,
helping such cells communicate with other cells by promoting and
releasing neurotransmitters. SAM-e helps neurotransmitters bind to
receptor sites. This, in turn, causes an increase in serotonin and
dopamine activity -- two very important compounds that strongly
influence our moods. Consequently tens of thousands of people take
SAM-e for depression. The studies seem to indicate it works.

For example, here is one US Government Report , which after
conducting studies, concludes:

"Out of 39 unique studies considered, 28 studies were included in a
meta-analysis of the efficacy of SAMe to decrease symptoms of
depression....Compared to placebo, treatment with SAMe was associated
with an improvement of approximately 6 points in the score of the
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression measured at 3 weeks (95 percent
CI [2.2, 9.0]). This degree of improvement is statistically as well
as clinically significant and is equivalent to a partial response to
treatment."

WARNING: People with bipolar depression should avoid SAM-e.


2)

SAMe is effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain. The same US
government report above concludes that it is, in fact, 80% more
effective in relieving osteoarthritis than placebo.
SAM-e has been sold as a prescription medication in Europe for the
treatment of arthritis symptoms. In 1999, it became available in the
United States as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement. Some
studies indicate that SAM-e may relieve osteoarthritic pain just as
well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as
ibuprofen, but with fewer side effects, "Alternative Arthritis
Treatments", Mayo Clinic, (November 2002). Some SAM-e manufacturers
claim the nutritional supplement helps regenerate cartilage and
improve joint disease. Although no scientific evidence supports this
claim. But it is KNOWN that NSAID's (asprin, acetemenophen,
ibuprofen etc), have a DE-generative affect upon cartilage.

SAM-e is not a cure. You have to keep taking it to get the effects.
It can be expensive and is not covered by insurance. I usually
purchase it for about $29.99 for 60 tablets (a 30 day supply). At
Walmarts or Walgreens even!!!! Of course a higher quality can be
found at health food stores and shops.

3)
The evidence is definitely in. SAM-e is serious medicine against
liver disease. Almost a thousand published studies document the
ability of this bioactive form of methionine to prevent and treat
liver disorders, including cancer. This amazing "super-nutrient," can
single-handedly normalize liver function. It turns out that SAMe is
the central player in liver biochemistry. It does two crucial things:
It methylates, and it transforms itself into the liver's most vital
substance, glutathione.

The liver contains the third highest amount of SAMe in the body,
after the adrenal and pineal glands. SAMe is so important for liver
function that it can be considered an essential nutrient for that
organ. In addition to its many other functions, SAMe plays a leading
role in liver regeneration. The liver has special SAMe enzymes just
for regenerating tissue. There is plenty evidence that SAM-e may help
prevent and reverse liver disease.

SAM functions very closely with vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin B6,
and choline in methylation reactions. Because of SAM's effects on the
liver, it may enhance the elimination of various drugs from the body.


CAUTIONS:

People currently on prescription medications should speak with their
doctor before taking SAM-e to discuss any possible drug interactions.
Other side effects include: nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort.

No long-term studies to show what effects might occur in people who
take it daily for years.

And of course, pregnant or nursing women should, as always, refrain
from taking any kind of supplement without consulting their physician
first.

To avoid conversion of SAMe into high levels of homocysteine, known
for its increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, you should
also be taking the cofactors, vitamin B6 (50 mg), vitamin B12 (1000
mcg), and folic acid (800 mcg), to enhance production of the SAMe
precursor, methionine. This is most easily taken as part of a
multivitamin, preferably with food, and not necessarily along with
the SAMe dose.


TIPS ON CHOOSING A SAM-E SUPPLEMENT

a. Choose only a pharmaceutical GMP compliant manufacturer of
supplements. Private companies like Consumerlabs.com have shown that
many supplements on the market are contaminated with toxins or do not
have the amount of ingredients stated on the label. But
pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities adhere to the same stringent
manufacturing requirements as pharmaceutical drugs.

b. SAM-e is a nutrient that can be destroyed by your powerful stomach
acids on contact. It is important you take an enteric coated SAMe
supplement. The enteric coating allows the nutrient to pass thru the
stomach acids almost entirely unscathed and get into your bloodstream
where it goes to work. Why not buy the best? Your health depends on
it.

The thing about Sam-e is I can go on and on and on touting virtues of
it's usage, but I'll have to end this and leave the rest of the
research up to you. But you have a guinea pig. I am currently on a
Sam-e regiment and I'll keep you all posted on the results.


But..... of course...

IT'S YOUR HEALTH. Why take my word for it? You can research anything
mentioned on this site yourself. Two good search engines are
www.mamma.com or www.google.com. or www.dogpile.com or
www.askjeeves.com Enter one or more keywords and do your own research.

Until next time remember .... most illness (upwards of 80% according
to experts) can be attributed to FOUR important factors that can
weaken your immune system and your ability to fight off disease:

1. Anxiety, depression, anger, guilt and other STRESS factors
LEARN TO FORGIVE AND LET GO

2. Improper and/or inadequate NUTRITION habits
LEARN TO AVOID PROCESSED AND/OR REFINED FOODS

3. A sedimentary lifestyle that does not include enough EXERCISE
FIND SOME KIND OF PHYSICALLY ENGAGING ACTIVITY IF IT IS NOTHING BUT
MORNING OR EVENING WALKS.

4. Not enough rest and quality SLEEP time
GO TO BED. "EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE; MAKES A MAN HEALTHY,
WEALTHY AND WISE"

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - Required by the FDA. The statements on this page
have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these
statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.