Posted by Ron Hill on March 2, 2002, at 7:58:29
In reply to Re: Do ANY of the alternative supplements/herbs wo, posted by Cassidy on February 28, 2002, at 18:22:03
Cassidy,
I'm happy to hear of your success. Are you are taking plenty of B-6, B-12, and folate with the SAM-e to prevent the build up of homocysteine? Also bear in mind that most humans do not absorb B-12 efficiently when taken orally. Therefore, it is very important to take a sublingual (under tounge) tablet (or get B-12 injections). Further, buy the bioactive form of B-12 (Methylcobalamin). Here is an article that says it better than I can:
Supercharged SAM-e: B Vitamins, Folate Increase the Supplement’s Effectiveness
by ImmuneSupport.com Staff12-01-1999 - Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid involved in several important methyl and sulfur transfer reactions, and is actually beneficial in small amounts. When homocysteine levels begin to rise in the body, excessive accumulation of homocysteine in the body fluid compartments is normally prevented by degradation through two enzymatic reactions called transsulfuration and remethylation. These two processes have to be functioning for homocysteine to be kept in control and for SAM-e to function in the body. Importantly, these same enzyme reactions cannot occur without proper levels of folate, vitamin B 6 (pyridoxal 5- phosphate), and vitamin B12 (cobalamin). If you take SAM-e to promote better health (lighter mood, comfortable joints and a detoxed liver), you also need adequate levels of B vitamins and folic acid to help the SAM-e do its job.
When the body has proper levels of folic acid, Vitamins B6 and B12, the enzymatic break-down of homocysteine occurs either through remethylation, which converts it into methionine, the SAM-e building block; or through transsulfuration, which turns it into glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
But when those processes become sluggish, the homocysteine levels in the body begin to rise. Large homocysteine levels left unchecked in the body, become an invitation to disease, including heart attack, stroke, cancer, birth defects, depression and perhaps CFS and FM.
A published Swedish study showed results of which demonstrate consistently high homocysteine levels and low concentrations of vitamin B12 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients meeting established clinical criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
Those taking SAM-e should be aware that the healthy benefits they experience are not due to SAM-e alone. SAM-e may be the “team leader” however, folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are crucial members of the team that contribute to its success. It is only by incorporating the entire team that one can achieve the victory of better health and well-being.
Source:
Evarts, Jeremy Lucius. “New Study Links Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Low Vitamin B12 and High Homocysteine in Cerebrospinal Fluid.” Healthwatch, August 1998.
Cowley, Geoffrey and Underwood, Anne. "What is SAMe?" Newsweek, July 5, 1999.
Brown, Richard, M.D., Bottigileri, Teodoro, Ph.D., Colman, Carol. Stop Depression Now. New York, 1999.
http://www.arthritissupport.com/track/goto/rtgoto30l.cfm
-- Ron
----------------------------------------------> I can report on SAM-e's effects in my situation. I had been on various SSRIs and a tri-cyclic over a number of years; going off resulted in serious symptoms, but each either pooped out or had problem side effects.
>
> I started SAM-e 2 1/2 years ago and have generally used 1200-1400mg to control depression (yes, it's a lot of money, but gave me my life back). It has worked as well or better than any of the other ADs I used, and it has essentially no side effects for me (it does affect bowel habits). Still, the depression was not entirely gone (low energy, rather dysthymic, etc.).
>
> The biggest change since starting SAMe was adding an estradiol patch about 10 months ago (body's form of estrogen). (Blood work through the years had not shown a need for estrogen replacement until last year, but based on the following experience, I no longer trust the blood level as a reliable indicator.) As soon as the estradiol kicked in, I found that I could reduce the amount of SAMe, and I started feeling better. By the time estradiol was gradually increased to .1mg (still MUCH less than standard Premarin dose) I found that I felt better than at any time in the last decade (!) and on only 300mg of SAM-e.
>
> I have been feeling NORMAL again with this combination (.1mg estradiol, 300mg SAMe) for about 3 months now,and am SO grateful. I wanted to share this experience with other women who might benefit from it.
poster:Ron Hill
thread:89549
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/96052.html