SAM-e: Improving Joint Function

[Guest guest]

Thought this might help someone out there. It came in my Dr.Koop weekly

newsletter.

_Vitacost.com - For Your Health Newsletter_

(http://www.vitacost.com/newsletter/html102804_static.html)

SAM-e: Improving Joint Function, Mood & Much More

By S. phs, M.D.

President, Vitacost.com

The Vioxx saga continues. For those of you who have not been following the

news, Vioxx, the blockbuster arthritis drug from Merck, was voluntarily recalled

by the pharmaceutical company on September 30, 2004, after a clinical study

showed that users were at an increased risk of suffering heart attack or

stroke. It has been estimated that Vioxx may have led to more than 27,000 heart

attacks and cardiac deaths before it was removed from the market. Merck has

estimated that it expects lawsuits from upwards of 16,000 customers, although

the

number could be much higher. The tort attorneys are licking their chops. Merck,

which has been around since the early 1900s, faces the real possibility that

this " mega " -lawsuit could actually bankrupt the company. These comments were

mentioned in a recent article in New York Magazine. Although Bextra and

Celebrex, the two other COX-2 inhibitors, are for the time being considered

" safe, " I

would not be surprised if, at some point down the road, these drugs possibly

suffered a similar fate as Vioxx.

For the tens of millions of arthritis sufferers in this country, the

treatment options have now become much more limited. There is clearly

uncertainty

about the remaining two COX-2 inhibitors, Bextra and Celebrex. The other drug

options are the typical non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as

ibuprofen

and naproxen. Unfortunately, these drugs are fraught with tremendous side

effects, including significantly increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding,

kidney and liver failure, and even congestive heart failure. There is, however,

a

tremendous alternative that I would like to share with you.

There was a study published earlier this year in the journal BMC

Musculoskeletal Disorders. Sixty-one adults over the age of forty with a history

of

osteoarthritis of the knee were enrolled in a study to compare the difference

between Celebrex and a nutrient known as S-adenosyl-l-methionine, commonly known

as

SAM-e. The study was randomized and double-blinded, with half of the group

receiving SAM-e 1,200 mg daily and the other half group receiving full-strength

Celebrex 200 mg a day for a total of sixteen weeks. The results were quite

amazing. In the first month of the study, the Celebrex group showed a reduction

in

pain that was statistically significant. However, by the second month, those

patients taking SAM-e had a similar reduction in the level of pain compared to

the group being treated with Celebrex. It was concluded that SAM-e had a

slower onset of action, but it was as effective as Celebrex in the management of

symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

SAM-e is an interesting nutrient. It was first discovered in Italy over fifty

years ago. Soon thereafter, it became extremely popular throughout Europe,

and only in the last few years has it been available in the United States. The

exact mechanism as to how SAM-e diminishes pain in osteoarthritis is not

clearly known. There is some evidence that suggests that it may reduce

inflammation,

as well as stimulating production of certain proteins to improve joint

function. SAM-e, however, has also been shown in other clinical trials to have

benefits for depression, headaches, and even fibromyalgia. SAM-e was even the

subject of discussion in an entire symposium from the prestigious American

Journal

of Medicine in the 1980s. SAMe also has benefits for:

Brain Metabolism. SAM-e methylation reactions are involved in the synthesis

of neurotransmitters, such as L-dopa and dopamine, and their related hormones,

epinephrine and phosphatidylcholine (a component of lecithin).

Longevity. Methylation of DNA appears to be important in the suppression of

errors in DNA replication. Demethylation of DNA is considered a contributor to

the aging process. Proper methylation, through substances such as SAM-e,

positively influences longevity.

Liver. SAM-e metabolism supports the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) and

glutathione-dependent enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and

glutathione-S-transferase), which are powerful antioxidants that are also

important for liver function.

As you probably know, the Nutraceutical Sciences Institute (NSI) line of

products has been rapidly expanding over the last few years. We will not,

however,

come out with a product until we know it is absolutely the best on the

market. For the last couple of years, we have been searching for a SAM-e product

that we would be proud to include in the NSI family of products. Well, I am

extremely happy to announce that the long search is over. NSI has now released

_SAM-e 400_

(http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=8350033\

01843) , a European-made, pharmaceutical grade, stabilized product,

consisting of a full 400 mg elemental SAM-e from 800 mg of SAM-e tosylate

disulfate. Additionally, we have released _SAM-e 200_

(http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=8350033\

01836) , a full 200 mg

elemental SAM-e from 400 mg of SAM-e tosylate disulfate. SAM-e 400 and SAM-e 200

are manufactured under low temperature and low humidity, and are

enteric-coated to ensure a biologically active product. SAM-e is a chiral

molecule and

therefore consists of two forms: (S,S) SAM-e and (R,S) SAM-e. The biologically

active form is the (S,S) structure, while the (R,S) structure is biologically

inactive.

_NSI's SAM-e_

(http://www.vitacost.com/store/products/ProductSearch.cfm?searchby=PN & SearchText\

=nsi+same) is made naturally by microbiological fermentation

and then specially processed without solvents to preserve 68-80% (S,S) SAM-e,

the highest active level available.

And like all of our other NSI products, not only are they of the best

quality, but the best value, as well. For example, we offer _30 tablets of 400

mg

SAM-e_

(http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=8350033\

01843) for the incredible price of $20.95. Meanwhile, _60 tablets of

200 mg SAM-e_

(http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=8350033\

01836) cost only $21.95. This is more than 50% below the

typical retail price of other SAM-e products on the market, many of which are of

inferior quality.

Just remember that when using this product for arthritis or any other

conditions listed above, the response is not immediate. It can take weeks or a

few

months to see benefits. Also, SAM-e is very synergistic and safe to use with

_NSI's ArthriPower_

(http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=0104)

and _glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM_

(http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=0122)

joint health products.

In addition, I would refer you back to a _recent newsletter_

(http://www.vitacost.com/newsletter/html100704_static.html) that I wrote about

other natural

options for healthy joints.