What is a SAM-e Supplement?

Supplements have surged in popularity due to more people focused on alternative ways to improve wellness and treat health-related concerns. One of these is the SAM-e supplement. The full name of this compound is S-adenosylmethionine.

What is SAM-e Made From?

SAM-e is compound naturally created inside the body. In Europe, a synthesized version of this compound has been available for sale for a long time, but it is relatively new in the U.S, where it is currently considered as a supplement.

SAM-e cannot be obtained naturally from eating foods, so the use as a supplement helps people who want an additional source.

Why Do People Buy SAM-e Supplements?

The most common reason for people to purchase these supplements is due to issues with osteoarthritis. Some research has reportedly found that, when used instead of NSAID painkillers, the supplement might be more effective at addressing the underlying pain from this medical condition.

There are fewer side effects for people who report taking this supplement on a regular basis, but the supplement does reportedly take a longer period of time to take effect in the body.

Although osteoarthritis is one of the newer reasons for people to turn to SAM-e supplements, it has been taken as a depression treatment for people for many years. The research on the effectiveness of the drug for that purpose has had mixed results.

Other less well-researched uses for SAM-e supplements are for migraines, liver disease, Alzheimers’ disease, and bursitis.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis
, according to medshadow.org, is a medical condition that is the most common type of arthritis. It is believed to impact over 30 million people in the U.S.

People who have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis can experience swelling and pain in the joints that gets worse over time. People are most likely to suffer these side effects in the neck, hips, hands, and knees.

How Does SAM-e Affect the Body?

According to Brain MD, the compound powers numerous enzymes for cell growth, specialization, and maturation. The supplement has been referenced as a way to generate mood-related neurotransmitted, make energy, and enhance connectivity in the body.

What Are the Side Effects of SAM-e?

As with all medications and supplements, users face the risk of problematic side effects. Most people report that these side effects are rare and mild. Use of this supplement can cause side effects such as mild insomnia, upset stomach, nausea, irritability, sweating, and diarrhea.

Are These Supplements Falsely Labeled?

Certain brands selling SAM-e supplements have been accused of putting their bottles to market with a very low amount of SAM-e inside. In fact, some consumers claim that seven brands contain as little as 12 to 18 percent of what’s advertised on the product.

This could mean that not only might the companies be involved in false advertising, but could put the users at risk for varying side effects because of inaccurate dosing details. The brands that might have bottles with false advertising information include We Like Vitamins, Vitamins Because You Are Worth It, NusaPure, aSquaredNutrition, HealthWay, BoostCeuticals, and Mental Refreshment.

The makers of SAM-e supplements are far from the first to be hit with allegations of false advertising. GNC has been hit with allegations of false advertising and using dangerous supplement fillers. The makers of Hydroxycut paid $8 million to settle allegations of misleading consumers about their weight loss supplement.

SAM-e supplements sold by the companies listed above may contain as little as 12 percent to 18 percent of the advertised amount of SAM-e.

This not only results in consumers receiving less of the product that they believe they are purchasing but may put them at risk for potential bodily harm as supplement consumers rely on the dosing information on the label to make informed decisions about how much of the supplement they should take.

Overview: SAM-e Supplements

SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine, also referred to as “os-adenosyl-methionine” or “SAMe” or “SAME” or “samee”) is a naturally occurring compound that the body makes on its own. The body makes it from an amino acid found in food known as methionine. It is supposed to aid in regulating the function of cells.

People take SAM-e as a pain killer for pain caused by osteoarthritis. Some also take it as a treatment for depression.

While it is sold as a supplement in the United States, SAM-e is a prescription drug in Europe.

According to WebMD, SAM-e has been found to be as effective as NSAID painkillers in some studies. It takes longer to work than NSAIDs, but it is also supposed to come with fewer side effects.

Researchers began to study SAM-e after it was discovered that those with liver diseases and depression showed abnormal levels of SAM-e in the body. In the course of studying SAM-e as a treatment for depression, participants with osteoarthritis reported an improvement in their joint pain.

In studies looking at how SAM-e affects depression, the dose used varies between 800 mg and 1600 mg daily. In osteoarthritis, the dose studied ranges from 600 mg to 1,200 mg.

If supplement companies list the potency of designated servings as 400, 500, or even 1500 mg, but are only including 12 percent to 18 percent of that amount of SAM-e in their products, consumers receive substantially less SAMe with each dose than they believe they are getting.

Join a Free SAM-e Supplements Lawsuit Investigation

You may qualify to join this SAM-e class action lawsuit investigation if you purchased SAM-e supplements sold by one of these supplement companies:

• Vitamins Because You Are Worth It
• NusaPure
• aSquared Nutrition
• We Like Vitamins
• BoostCeuticals
• Healthy Way
• Mental Refreshment

Learn More

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.