SAM-e Supplement – S-adenosyl-methionine with Anti-Depressant Properties

S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM-e) is a naturally-occurring compound in the body which promotes methylation, the process whereby methyl groups (one atom of carbon and 3 of hydrogen) are transferred from one molecule to another. Methylation is essential for many enzymatic processes and SAM-e is the most active of all methyl donors. Indeed, SAM-e has been the subject of dozens of clinical studies involving thousands of patients.

What are the benefits associated with SAM-e?

SAM-e plays a crucial role in conjunctive tissue synthesis; it eases joint pain, promotes mobility, and protects cartilage from damage. In 2002, an American government agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) concluded that SAM-e was 80% more effective than a placebo at relieving osteo-arthritis pain and as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) at treating osteo-arthritis. NSAIDs are associated with serious side-effects while SAM-e has health benefits for the whole body:

• SAM-e supports hepatic synthesis of glutathione, an essential antioxidant. It stimulates the detoxification and regeneration of the liver. It has been used for treating cirrhosis and for helping people give up alcohol and drugs.
• SAM-e helps treat depression naturally, more effectively and faster than anti-depressants, and without any side-effects. It simultaneously increases levels of several neurotransmitters – deficient in patients being treated for depression.
• The methylation promoted by SAM-e is a key element of the energy production process, particularly the recycling of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). SAM-e has a beneficial effect on the mechanisms of aging by protecting desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from demethylation.
• SAM-e may also prevent cerebral aging: in a recent animal study, SAM-e doubled glutathione levels in the brain and increased levels of its enzymatic metabolites by 98%. It decreased a marker of radical activity by 46%, and in culture, reduced lipid peroxidation by 55%. It is a powerful and pluripotent nutrient which can be life-changing when taken at sufficient levels and in the right form.

Why is SAM-e 400 mg supplement a better option?

We introduced SAM-e in Europe in 1998 and while its price has now been reduced by over 70%, it remains an expensive nutrient. It should be recognized that:

• SAM-e is a chiral molecule which exists in two forms: an active isomer (S,S) and an inactive isomer (R,S). All SAM-e products contain these two isomers in varying percentages. The SAM-e that we offer contains 70-80% of the (S,S) form which is the highest level available in a pharmaceutical grade product. Some (too) cheap products contain just 47% or less.
• SAM-e is a highly reactive and therefore very fragile molecule which degrades rapidly when subjected to heat, humidity, or gastric acids. In fact, a poorly packaged SAM-e product will degrade in just a few hours, resulting in a total lack of biological activity. In order to preserve SAM-e from heat and humidity, it is essential that each tablet is double foil blister-packed. To protect it from gastric acids, it must be enteric-coated; pharmacokinetic studies show that this results in maximum serum levels. This type of packaging is more expensive but it is quite simply essential.
• The SAM-e we offer is obtained naturally, by microbiological fermentation, and without use of solvents. It is specially packaged to ensure optimal stability and biological activity.

Like SAM-e, other substances with excellent therapeutic potential are also available as nutritional supplements. Super Quercetin, for example, is a quercetin concentrate with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and cardio-protective properties. Two natural extracts also recognized for their therapeutic efficacy are French Oak, for reducing fatigue and improving mood, and St John's Wort Extract, for combating mild to moderate depression.