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SAMe Tames Osteoarthritis

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SAMe Tames Osteoarthritis

SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) is an important biological agent in the human body, participating in over 40 essential biochemical reactions.

Where is it found?
SAMe is not abundant in the diet, though its precursor, the amino acid methionine, is plentiful in many protein foods. It is not known whether increasing one's intake of methionine will increase the body's production of SAMe. Supplements of SAMe have been available in the U.S. since 1997.

Who is likely to be deficient?
Folic acid and vitamin B12 are necessary for the synthesis of SAMe, and deficiencies of these vitamins results in low concentrations of SAMe in the central nervous system. Low blood or central nervous system levels of SAMe have been detected in people with cirrhosis of the liver, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and depression.

About osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease of the joints, especially the weight-bearing joints, that develops when the linings of joints degenerate, leading to lipping and spurring of bone, pain, and decreased mobility and function.

OA is a universal consequence of aging among animals with a bony skeleton. Many factors contribute to the development of OA; the disease is primarily associated with aging and injury and was once called "wear-and-tear" arthritis. OA may occur secondary to many other conditions. However, in most cases, the true cause of OA is unknown.

How much is usually taken?
A very large, though uncontrolled, trial (meaning that there was no comparison with placebo) demonstrated a very good or good clinical effect of SAMe in 71% of over 20,000 OA sufferers. In addition to this preliminary research, many double-blind trials have shown that SAMe reduces pain, stiffness, and swelling better than placebo and equal to drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen in people with OA. These double-blind trials all used 1,200 mg of SAMe per day.

Healthy people do not need to take this supplement. Researchers working with people suffering from a variety of other conditions have been using these amounts of SAMe: depression, 1,600 mg per day; fibromyalgia, 800 mg per day; and liver disorders, 1,200 mg per day.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
Clinical trials in thousands of people for up to two years have demonstrated that SAMe is very well tolerated, much better than the medications with which it has often been compared. Some people may experience occasional gastrointestinal upset.

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