Is a Natural Product Better
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Ever heard of S-adenosylmethionine? Maybe you have heard of Sam-e. If you read the Costco Connection I know you have seen it because Costco promoted in this news letter to all is members. It is a compound found in the body. Many of our bodies chemical reactions involve S-adenosylmethionine.
SAM is produced and consumed in the liver and is involved in about 40 metabolic reactions. It has shown some effect on the pain of osteoarthritis and depression as well as some beneficial effects in possibly reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Some evidence suggests it may be helpful in preventing liver disease in some people. There is a very small body of research that involves mainly mice from which most of this evidence is extracted.
How much do you need? For depression is has been suggested that 800mg – 1600mg per day is necessary at a cost of $35-70 per week. Pricey! It is safe says Dr. David Mischoulon M.D. of the Dept of Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School. It has not been approved as anything except a dietary supplement by the FDA.
So, here are the conclusions from government sponsored studies, it works about as well as Celebrex for control of osteoarthritis pain and it might have some effect on mood at a cost of $70 or under per week. That is quite pricey and may not be the best value for your dollar.
The effect on Alzheimer’s probably was due to low Vitamin B12 and not low SAM. The effect on liver problems is unproven.
Should you take it? Talk it over with your doctor. He or she won’t likely know much about it. You can consult with the May 2009 issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter or look at studies done at UC Irvine and the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for more information. Like always I welcome your comments and questions and subscriptions via email. If you liked this post, thumb-it-up, by clicking on the blue bar below.
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