Posted by Ron Hill on April 8, 2002, at 12:01:35
In reply to SAM-e users and people in the know, posted by johnj on April 7, 2002, at 19:17:05
>Does anybody know of any websites that are medically based, not just trying to sell the stuff, that may help me understand it better?
----------------John,
Here are some links to get you started. Much more is available; use a search engine for the term "SAM-e".
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.same.html
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/sameart.html
http://www.immunesupport.com/news/SAMe2txt.htm
http://www.sam-e.com/clinicalstudies/clinicalStudies.asp
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.es/workshop-methionina/anglesa/cap25.htm
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.es/workshop-methionina/anglesa/cap26.htm
http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/living/inyourhead/allinyourhead_36.html
http://www.iherb.com/same2.html
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1700.50735
>I am also interested in "sublingual vitamin B" or something to that effect. What does Sublingual mean?Sublingual means "under tongue". Some (most?) people do not effectively absorb B-12 when it is taken orally (down-the-hatch). To solve this problem, B-12 can be administered intravenously (B-12 shots) or sublingually. By holding the sublingual B-12 tablet under the tongue, a portion of the B-12 dose is transferred directly to the blood stream and, thereby, the low oral absorption problem is circumvented. Shop for the bioactive form of B-12 (methylcobalamin).
Some research data indicate that it is not advisable to take supplements of any one of the B vitamins independent of the others. In other words, also take a good B-complex vitamin (down-the-hatch) when supplementing with sublingual B-12.
B-6, B-12, and folic acid are very important, particularly when taking SAM-e. Here is an article that explains what I mean:
12-01-1999 - 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.
-- Ron
poster:Ron Hill
thread:102300
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102394.html