(5/14/99)
A hot new product claims to treat everything from depression to arthritis
to migraines.
It's like the old-time healing tonics for "whatever ails you."
And it's so popular, most stores are back ordered two months!
Science Specialist Ed Yeates tells us what it's all about!
Europe has been enamoured with SAMe for several years now, but it just
arrived in this country about three months ago.
Even in that short time, dealers can't keep it in stock.
Ironically, the compounds in this nutritional supplement affect every cell
in the body - that's why European consumers claim it does so many things.
Dave Card, of Dave's Health & Nutrition, says, "Most companies are back
ordered a month to two months on it. And again, I think it's that supply and
demand and I don't think they expected it and it does have to come through
Europe."
On this day, Dave Card had only two bottles in this store and two in
another.
Other health food stores are completely sold out and back ordered
through one of only two manufacturers.
So what is SAMe?
It stands for
S-Adenosyl-Methionine. It's basically a combination of two amino acids which
produce as many as 40 different biochemical reactions in the body.
Dr. Bruce Woolley, of the BYU pharmacology department says, "What worries me is
its extremely broad action, because when you take it you will be affecting all
the cells of the body. That may be good, that may be bad."
For example, pharmacologists question if you have arthritis or migraines
but don't have depression, why take it?
"We might be taking care of one pathologic condition that we're concerned
about, but we're modifying everything else. if you have something that is
normal and you modify it, is that good or bad?"))
SAMe is similar to St John's Wort in that it helps increase the levels
of three brain chemical neurotransmitters which are deficient in people with
depression.
While SAMe may have fewer side effects than St John's Wort, Dr. Woolley
warns it could have the opposite effect on people with a more severe form of
depression.
He cautions, "But with this, you cannot take it with manic depression because
it will exacerbate - it becomes a stimulant and exacerbates the manic phase."
While both BYU and University of Utah researchers are doing bona-fide
studies on the possible benefits of chemicals like selenium - SAMe's recipe has
only been tested as a therapy for dogs suffering liver degeneration.
In fact it was discovered in 1973 in Italy for that application.
And what about interactions with other medications or foods a consumer
may be taking at the same time.
Dr. Woolley warns, don't take SAMe if you're taking medication for a
liver condition.
And don't take it while taking an antidepressant drug.
But even more, "We don't know what it does exactly because it affects
every cell in the body and in so doing, almost anything you ingest has
potential interactions with it."
There are some indications SAMe may NOT do well with a new fat-blocking
drug called Orlistat since both follow a pathway to block pancreatic enzymes.
Orlisat by itself can produce diarrhea as a side effect. But when
combined with SAMe, the trots could "intensify" even more.
Sammy is also expensive.
200 mililgrams, which is the dosage pharmacologists say is the most
effective, cost $34 to $38. And in this case - that's only 20 tablets.
