Researchers Present SAM-e Study Results at
American Health Foundation Scientific Symposium
NEW YORK, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- International researchers, psychiatrists
and orthopedic specialists gathered today at a scientific symposium
coordinated by the American Health Foundation to review data from
approximately 75 European studies confirming the link between dietary
supplementation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) and enhanced mood and improved
joint health. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound found in all human
tissues and organs. Low levels of SAM-e have been linked to mood disorders.
In studies spanning 20 years, SAM-e has been shown to work quickly on the mood
regulation centers of the brain, to enhance preservation and promote formation
of cartilage between bones, and to support liver health.
SAM-e is produced by the body from methionine, a sulphur-containing amino
acid, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy-producing compound. Present
in all living cells, SAM-e circulates throughout the body's tissues and is
required for more than 35 biochemical reactions in the body. Presenters at
today's conference suggested that dietary supplementation of SAM-e may improve
mood and joint mobility by boosting levels of the compound in the body's blood
and tissues. SAM-e supplementation is the primary means of increasing levels
of the compound in the body.
"These findings are very interesting because of the many types of drugs and
herbals people are using to treat emotional health and joint immobility
today," said John Weisburger, Ph.D., M.D. (hc), symposium chair and senior
member of the American Health Foundation. "The clinical and case studies
presented at today's meeting suggest that SAM-e supplementation may be
comparable in action, with fewer side effects, to other products currently in
widespread use."
SAM-e and Mood Enhancement
SAM-e works to enhance mood through the methylation process. Known as the
universal methyl donor, SAM-e appears to increase the synthesis and breakdown
of specific neurotransmitters and enhance the sensitivity of nerve receptors
in the brain to stimulation. This process makes cell membranes more fluid,
which may protect and enhance cell integrity. It may also aid in the repair
of myelin that surrounds nerve cells.
"SAM-e is an interesting compound because of the multitude of metabolic
pathways in which it participates in every cell," said symposium presenter
Teodoro Bottiglieri, Ph.D., director of neuropharmacology at the Institute of
Metabolic Disease, Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, who has
been studying SAM-e for nearly 20 years. Dr. Bottiglieri reviewed the
biochemistry of SAM-e at the symposium, detailing the essential role SAM-e
plays in normal biochemical processes for mood enhancement and joint health.
"The effect of SAM-e on mood and joint health has been studied in controlled
clinical trials where it has been shown to be comparable to other products for
these therapeutic categories."
Richard Brown, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist and assistant professor at
Columbia University, has been recommending SAM-e supplements to his patients
for approximately four years. "In my practice, the results I have seen from
SAM-e supplementation are significant. Patients say that SAM-e has helped
them regain pleasure from doing everyday activities," said Dr. Brown. "Another
benefit is that SAM-e is natural to the body, so many people may feel more
comfortable taking this supplement than other products, especially for long
periods of time," he added. Unlike the medicinal herb St. John's Wort, SAM-e
is a compound that occurs naturally in the body.
SAM-e is well tolerated. It does not cause side effects such as, sexual
dysfunction, weight gain, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, bladder
problems, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, nausea, insomnia and agitation.
SAM-e and Joint Health
Studies also have shown that SAM-e supplementation may promote joint health.
Research suggests SAM-e may enhance preservation and promote cartilage
formation and repair through the transulfuration pathway. SAM-e donates its
sulfate group to other compounds, resulting in the increased synthesis of
proteoglycans fundamental to joint cartilage repair. A long-term, multi-
center clinical study involving 97 people found that relief from pain and an
improvement in joint health may begin as early as the first few weeks of SAM-e
supplementation and continue for up to two years.
"The major benefit of taking SAM-e, in terms of joint health, is that the
supplement not only relieves joint pain, but it may also work to repair the
damage causing the pain. The results can vastly improve people's daily
pleasures by allowing them to remain active," said Dr. Peter Billigmann,
symposium presenter, professor and sports medicine specialist at the
University of Landau in Germany.
Liver Function
In addition to its role in mood and joint health, animal studies show the
ability of SAM-e supplementation to maintain healthy liver function. Because
of the liver's vital role in many metabolic processes, even a minor disruption
of liver function can have a broad range of effects on the body. A deficiency
of SAM-e may reduce the ability of the liver to remove toxic compounds from
the blood.
SAM-e Availability
SAM-e will be available nationwide in mid-March at GNC stores; drug stores
such as CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Savon, Osco, Longs and Eckerd; discount
stores such as Kmart, Target and WalMart; and food stores such as Albertson,
Jewel, Kroger, Lucky and Publix. The supplements will be available from GNC
in bottles containing 100-milligram tablets. At other drug stores, and at
discount and food stores, SAM-e supplements will be sold in blister packs
containing 20 200-milligram tablets under the Nature Made brand. Additional
information about SAM-e can soon be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.sam-e.com.
The American Health Foundation, founded in 1969, is a not-for-profit private
research organization devoted primarily to the prevention of chronic diseases,
especially cancer. This is realized through an interdisciplinary research and
intervention approach implemented by investigators in epidemiology and
biostatistics; analytical, synthetic, biological and clinical chemistry;
molecular biology; cell biology; nutrition; endocrinology; pathology; and
behavioral sciences.
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Mount Olive, New Jersey, is the North
American unit of the BASF Group. With sales of $5.5 billion in 1994, BASF
Corporation is among the top ten producers of chemicals in the United States.
Its diversified product mix includes chemicals, nylon fibers, polymers,
automotive coatings, colorants, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals and
magnetic media. SAM-e is the first nutraceutical to be launched by BASF
Corporation in the United States.
SOURCE BASF Corporation
CO: BASF Corporation; BASF Group; American Health Foundation
ST: New Jersey
IN: MTC HEA
SU:
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