Guest guest Posted December 2, 2002 Report Share Posted December 2, 2002 - -- In Gettingwell, " scarlett " <scarlett@c...> wrote: > Odd coincidence, someone just told me about SAMEe last night. Could you > tell what it is? I know it has a clinical name: adeno-something. Thanks! > peace, s > Here ya go... S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) is an important physiological agent formed in the body by combining the essential amino acid methionine with adenosyl-triphosphate (ATP). SAM was discovered in Italy in 1952-- not surprisingly, most of the research on SAM has been conducted in the country of its discovery. Food Sources Because SAM is manufactured from methionine, you might think that dietary sources of methionine provide the same benefits as SAM. However, 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. Deficiency Signs and Symptoms Normally the body manufactures all the SAM it needs from the amino acid methionine. However, a deficiency of methionine, vitamin B12, or folic acid can result in decreased SAM synthesis. In addition, tissue levels of SAM are typically low in the elderly and in patients suffering from osteoarthritis, depression, and various liver disorders. Beneficial Effects SAM is involved in over 40 biochemical reactions in the body. It 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 many times more effective in transferring methyl groups than other 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. Available Forms SAM has been available commercially in Europe since 1975. Unfortunately, as of April 1996, it was still not available in the United States. I discuss it here because I believe it will be into U.S. health-food stores as a nutritional supplement in the very near future. The commercial form of SAM is a stabilized salt produced under U.S. patent numbers 3,954,726 (1976) and 4,057,686 (1977). Principal Uses There are five principal conditions where SAM is used: depression, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, liver disorders, and migraine headaches. Depression SAM is necessary in the manufacture of important brain compounds such as neurotransmitters and phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine. Supplementing the diet with SAM in depressed patients results in increased levels of serotonin, dopamine, and phosphatidylserine. It improves binding of neurotransmitters to receptor sites, which causes increased serotonin and dopamine activity and improved brain cell membrane fluidity, all resulting in significant clinical improvement. The antidepressive effects of folic acid (Vitamin B6) are mild compared to the effects noted in clinical trials using SAM. Based on results from a number of clinical studies, it appears that SAM is perhaps the most effective natural antidepressant (although a strong argument could be made for the extract of St. John's Wort standardized to contain 0.3 percent hypericin) Tables 45.1 and 45.2 [ following tables ] summarize double-blind studies comparing SAM to either a placebo or an antidepressant drug. Most of the studies cited in Table 45.1 and 45.2 used injectable SAM. However, more recent studies using a new oral preparation at a dosage of 400 milligrams four times daily (1600 mg total) demonstrate that SAM is just as effective orally as it is intravenously. SAM is better tolerated and has a quicker onset of antidepressant action than tricyclic antidepressants. The most recent study compared SAM to the tricyclic desipramine. In addition to clinical response, the blood level of SAM was determined in both groups. At the end of the 4-week trial, 62 percent of the patients treated with SAM and 50 percent of the patients treated with desipramine had significantly improved. Regardless of the type of treatment, patients with a 50 percent decrease in their Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) score showed a significant increase in plasma SAM concentration. These results suggests that one of the ways tricyclic drugs exert antidepressive effects is by raising SAM levels. In addition to generalized depression, there are two conditions associated with depression where SAM produces significant effects: the postpartum (after pregnancy) period and drug rehabilitation. SAM's benefits in these conditions probably stem from a combination of its effects on brain chemistry and liver function. In the study in postpartum depression (after-pregnancy " blues " ), the administration of SAM (1,600 milligrams per day) produced significantly better mood scores than a placebo group. As for the use of SAM in drug detoxification, SAM (1,200 milligrams daily) significantly reduced psychological distress (chiefly anxiety and depression) in the detoxification and rehabilitation of opiate abusers. > > anagrammys [anagramy@b...] > Sunday, December 01, 2002 5:30 PM > Gettingwell > Re: Depression > --1 SAMe a.m. > 100mg b-6, 100mg.magnesium, 50 to 100mg 5-htp p.m. > Works like a charm and helps joint pain too. > (If magnesium upsets your stomach, bathe in epsom salts to absorb the > mag.) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2002 Report Share Posted December 2, 2002 - " anagrammys " <anagramy Monday, December 02, 2002 7:30 AM Re: Depression/SAM-e > - > -- In Gettingwell, " scarlett " <scarlett@c...> wrote: > > Odd coincidence, someone just told me about SAMEe last night. Could > you > > tell what it is? I know it has a clinical name: adeno-something. > Thanks! > > peace, s > > > Here ya go... > > S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) is an important physiological agent formed > in the body by combining the essential amino acid methionine with > adenosyl-triphosphate (ATP). SAM was discovered in Italy in 1952-- > not surprisingly, most of the research on SAM has been conducted in > the country of its discovery. <snip> Your post makes mentions of several " tables " so I am assuming it comes from a website. Got the URL handy? Alobar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2002 Report Share Posted December 2, 2002 www.iherb.com and enter SAM-e into search. There was a lot more info., I just cut the basics and depression info. ann > > Your post makes mentions of several " tables " so I am assuming > it comes from a website. Got the URL handy? > > Alobar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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