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Common supplement SAMe could be toxic, scientists warn
Medical Xpress / University of Manchester / Communications Biology ^ | Apr. 11, 2022 | Kazuki Fukumoto et al

Posted on 04/12/2022 10:30:37 AM PDT by ConservativeMind

A dietary supplement sold over the counter could be toxic and should not be used until it is shown to be safe, biologists have discovered.

Sellers of the supplement SAMe, which is short for S-adenosylmethionine, claim it can help joints and liver diseases, and promote emotional well-being.

Dr. Jean Michel Fustin says it disrupts the biological clock in the body because it is broken down into adenine and methylthioadenosine—known toxic substances that cause a wide range of other problems, including kidney and liver damage.

Dr. Fustin discovered the impact when studying how the biological clock in mice is influenced by different compounds.

With SAMe, they were attempting to promote SAMe-related metabolism of the animals, though they were surprised to find an opposite inhibitive effect.

"This worrying effect of SAMe on the body clock in mice strongly suggested it will be toxic in human as well, which we actually confirmed in human cells" said Dr. Fustin.

Adenine and methylthioadenosine inhibit chemical reactions called methylations that occurs in every cell and tissue in the body. SAMe is required for these reactions, and it was expected that more SAMe would promote methylations. But the opposite turned out to be true.

Disruptions to methylation processes have been linked to a variety of problems, including: heart attack, stroke, dementia, depression, migraines, autism, fertility, cancer, and birth defects.

He added: "Because of the accumulation of adenine and methyltioadenosine, the consequences of chronic excess SAMe in the body are potentially very serious.

"I would advise the public to steer clear of SAMe, at the very least until we understand more about its effect on human health."

Every human is controlled by an internal "body clock" which orchestrate most of our body processes over this period, including our sleep/wake cycles, digestion, metabolism, appetite and immunity.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: toxic
This sounds like a good reason to stop SAMe use.

This is a supplement I only tried for a short time, and I saw no benefit.

It does seem less useful, with fewer studies, than many other supplements.

1 posted on 04/12/2022 10:30:37 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission; Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This potentially high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Now keeping a new list (“Common/Top Issues”) for conditions expected to only concern at least 1% of the population. Ask to be on either the “Common/Top Issues” or “Everything” list.

Please email or private message me if you want on or off of a list and of which list you desire.

2 posted on 04/12/2022 10:31:55 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Just think of it as a vaccine and everything will be fine.


3 posted on 04/12/2022 10:40:13 AM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: ConservativeMind

“because it is broken down into adenine and methylthioadenosine—known toxic substances”

that’s odd ... because:

“most SAM is produced and consumed in the liver. More than 40 methyl transfers from SAM are known, to various substrates such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and secondary metabolites. It is made from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and methionine by methionine adenosyltransferase.”

who knew that the body makes and utilizes a toxic substance in more than 40 biochemical transformations ... no wonder everyone dies sooner or later ... could that be caused by these 40 toxic biotransformations?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Adenosyl_methionine

oh wait! “adenine is one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid of DNA that are represented by the letters G–C–A–T.” Who knew our DNA was toxic!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenine

“AND: 5′-Methylthioadenosine (MTA) is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing nucleoside present in all mammalian tissues.” It’s a wonder any of us are alive at all with all of these toxins that make up our being!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1357272503004199


4 posted on 04/12/2022 10:43:27 AM PDT by catnipman (In a post-covid world, ALL "science" is now political science: stolen elections have consequences)
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To: catnipman

I’ve used SAMe for years. Helps me sleep, takes the edge off any nervousness. I’m 82.


5 posted on 04/12/2022 10:47:06 AM PDT by ryderann
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To: catnipman

The scientists say we do need it and that we produce it, but the problem is that our bodies may not have processes to handle more than we might normally produce.

The reversal of the expected function of SAMe is a concerning development.


6 posted on 04/12/2022 10:49:21 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: All
Sellers of the supplement SAMe, which is short for S-adenosylmethionine, claim it can help joints and liver diseases, and promote emotional well-being.

Couldn't the same be said for bourbon?

7 posted on 04/12/2022 10:55:40 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Instead of Build Back Better, how about put it back the way you found it?)
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To: ConservativeMind

I would advise the Public to steer clear of UNCLE SAMe...............


8 posted on 04/12/2022 11:03:56 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: ConservativeMind

Our derm vet had us use this SAM-e for something with our (extremely allergic) dog when a problem occurred with one of her millions of pills. I think it was instead of Avoca (vegetarian glucosomine) - all were for joints, which she had some trouble with all her life outside the allergies.

She died coming on 8 years ago, so I don’t recall exactly.

But it wouldn’t surprise me if only because just about all her pills required liver checks (which she passed with flying colors - one of the things that made her “built for this disease” to quote the vet).


9 posted on 04/12/2022 11:11:49 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVd)
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To: BipolarBob

I’ll drink to that!
For my ‘cough’, you know.


10 posted on 04/12/2022 11:12:30 AM PDT by lee martell (u)
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To: ConservativeMind

regardless: adenine and methylthioadenosine—known toxic substances are NOT toxic substances ... which makes the entire article complete bullshit ...


11 posted on 04/12/2022 11:14:07 AM PDT by catnipman (In a post-covid world, ALL "science" is now political science: stolen elections have consequences)
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To: ConservativeMind

I tried it once for a few days. It made me sick each time so I threw them away.


12 posted on 04/12/2022 11:25:26 AM PDT by Tennessee Conservative (My goal in life is to be the person my dogs think I am)
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To: lee martell

“For my ‘cough’, you know.”

My Granny used to take her ‘medicine’ every night before bed. Gem of Kentucky mixed with milk.


13 posted on 04/12/2022 12:02:35 PM PDT by dljordan
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To: ConservativeMind

“This is a supplement I only tried for a short time, and I saw no benefit.”

SAMe (pun) here, although I tried it multiple times for several months each. No effects, positive or negative, except to my wallet. Went back to SSRIs and SNRIs at that time.


14 posted on 04/12/2022 12:07:04 PM PDT by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: ConservativeMind

I wonder how this effects dogs. I just started giving my rescue dog Denamarin (https://www.denamarin.com/) 3 weeks ago due to her liver enzymes trending up. Vet recommended stating that the supp helps support the liver. Denamarin is a supplement for dogs and cats containing S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and silybinis.

Wondering if I should stop now. Pup just had blood drawn this morning to recheck liver values again. Hoping tomorrow will bring good news.


15 posted on 04/12/2022 12:12:09 PM PDT by Faith65 (Isaiah 40:31 )
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To: Faith65

It is also possible that dogs with specific issues do not have issues with it.

These scientists tested it in human cells and noted the problem.

It may be possible that having certain problems might make SAMe work for you, but in normal cells that were tested, it backfired.


16 posted on 04/12/2022 12:17:47 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Thanks very much!

BTW I really appreciate your posting so much medical info!!! I bkmk your posts often.


17 posted on 04/12/2022 12:21:53 PM PDT by Faith65 (Isaiah 40:31 )
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To: Faith65

Thank you for the kind words.


18 posted on 04/12/2022 12:37:03 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Faith65

DON’T STOP. Denamarin brought my 16 year old English Setter’s liver values into normal range. It has recently been used to save the lives of people who ate poisonous mushrooms...often fatal in days, but many lived. (Check NW states news where many Asians get poisoning from picking wild mushrooms).


19 posted on 04/12/2022 1:19:42 PM PDT by F450-V10
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To: F450-V10

I’m hoping and praying for good news tomorrow with her blood work. We cannot pinpoint the cause of the upward trend in liver values so I’m doing everything I can to help her body heal with good healthy human grade food and supps. I’m currently reading the Forever Dog by Dr. Karen Becker and doing tons of research on canine liver issues. We lost our last rescue girl not very long ago to a very aggressive liver tumor while my husband was recovering from a near fatal motorcycle accident. Absolutely crushed me. Doing everything I can again to keep this lovebug around. Funny weird that both rescue girls came from the same southern kill shelter - but many years apart - connection somehow I wonder.


20 posted on 04/12/2022 2:37:11 PM PDT by Faith65 (Isaiah 40:31 )
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