Thousands 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.

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