SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is not an herb or a hormone. It is an important physiologic compound, naturally occurring in all human tissues and organs. It is a "building block" necessary for the production of many compounds produced by your body used in over 35 different biochemical reactions. It is made from methionine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods.
SAMe was discovered four decades ago. It is a derivative of the amino acid, methionine. It's formed when methionine combines with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a nucleotide present in all living cells. ATP is the major source of cellular energy. The liver uses this process to make SAM, when the liver is perfectly healthy. SAM-e is beneficial for musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia and shows great promise for persons with Alzheimer's disease.It is also used to treat acute liver disease provided a blood test is taken to ascertain effectiveness. And, SAMe has also been shown to be an anti-depressant. SAMe enhances the function of amino acids, hormones, lipids, minerals and neurotransmitters and is found in almost every tissue of the body.
According to a study over 17 million Americans are affected by depression and yet many of these cases are never diagnosed or treated properly. Depression is characterized by persistent symptoms lasting for over two weeks including loss of motivation, sleep disturbance, feelings of sadness and pessimism and in appetite, bouts of crying and thoughts of suicide. The value of SAMe in treating depression has been well recognized. SAMe has been hailed as the safest and most effective natural antidepressant ever used. While antidepressants can cause liver damage, SAMe has been shown in numerous studies to be liver-protective. SAMe also has no withdrawal reaction, commonly found when antidepressants are stopped abruptly.
BENEFITS OF SAM-e
SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is an amino acid, used in the treatment of many conditions. Some Common benefits of SAM e are as follows.
SAMe has been shown to improve symptoms of pain, fatigue, morning stiffness, and mood in patients with fibromyalgia.
SAM was found to have a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis without causing the gastrointestinal side effects associated.
Studies suggests that SAMe may help in the treatment of migraines
SAMe is highly concentrated in liver tissue. Clinical studies indicate SAMe can cure liver diseases.
SAMe's stress reducing properties may help in preventing asthma attacks
SAMe may be beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
SAMe improves serotonin and dopamine levels.
SIDE EFFECTS OF SAM-e
SAM-e is extremely safe and non-toxic. The most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal- primarily heartburn, nausea and stomachache.
People with bipolar disorder (manic-depression) should not take SAMe since it may worsen manic episodes. SAMe should not be combined with different antidepressants without first consulting a health care provider. Antidepressant Medications There have been reports of SAMe interacting with antidepressant medications and increasing the potential for side effects including headache, irregular or accelerated heart rate, anxiety, and restlessness. On the other hand, because it often takes up to six or eight weeks for antidepressant medications to start working, SAMe has been used with certain drugs to relieve symptoms more quickly. Consult your healthcare provider before using SAMe if you are taking any medications for depression
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