Twice the Results With One Powerful Product: SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine)

by Health Resource Staff

Is it possible that CFIDS and FM patients could find relief from two of their most prevalent yet very different symptoms, joint pain and depression, from ONE product? While it may seem surprising (or even too good to be true) the answer is yes, and the product is SAMe.
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. The key to understanding the way SAMe 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 hormones and neurotransmitters including serotonin, melatonin, dopamine and adrenaline. 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. SAMe is the most robust of all methyl donors, which is good news, however, the story does not stop here. Once a SAMe molecule donates its methyl group, it breaks down to form homocysteine, a potentially dangerous molecule that has been linked to heart attack and stroke risk, birth defects and depression. Homocysteine is kept in check through B-vitamins stored in the cells that actually convert homocysteine into an important antioxidant called glutathione. However, when B-vitamin levels fall, the homocysteine levels actually work to halt the production of SAMe, causing resultant health problems. One of these health problems is depression, on which SAM-e has shown promising effects.

There are many possible explanations for SAMe's mood-boosting qualities: it effects dopamine and serotonin production; it may make receptors in the brain more responsive; it may "methylate" the membranes of brain cells, allowing brain receptors to be more mobile. Whatever the logistics, over 40 clinical studies have been published since the 1970s that support SAMe's positive effect on mood. 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.

Mood lifting is only half the story. 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. This happens when B-vitamins convert homocysteine into the antioxidant glutathione. This glutathione conversion yields molecules called sulfate groups that actually help to restore cartilage. Proof positive: the Arthritis Foundation recently stated that they were satisfied that SAMe "provides pain relief."

The last area of research into the SAMe phenomenon targets liver function and detoxification. Studies point to SAMe's ability to normalize liver function in patients with cirrhosis, hepatitis and cholestasis (blockage of the bile ducts).

Not all SAMe is created equal and those who wish to make SAMe a part of their supplementation program should look for two distinctive qualities before purchasing: type and coating. First, full-strength SAMe is in a form called butanedisulfonate, which should not be confused with tosylate or SAMe sulfate. Second, look for SAMe tablets that are enteric coated, meaning that the tablets pass through the stomach intact. Lastly, experts advises taking two full-strength SAMe tablets daily on an empty stomach.

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?