Chadline Chaddinson
Iron
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S-Adenosyl methionine (SAM-e, ademethionine) is a thing naturally occuring in the body. It can also be taken as a supplement.
In the US it's considered a dietary supplement and most commonly used to imporve mood, but in Europe, China, Mexico etc it's marketed as a prescription drug, they treat liver diseases with it. It usually takes a week to a month to notice effects of SAM-e.
Oral SAM-e is only 5% bioavailable, while injectable SAM-e is almost 100% bioavailable. So, when taken orally, minimum dose should be 400~800 mg, and 1200~1600 mg doses are proposed. Note that it's very expensive. Side effects are rare and include gastrointestinal issues and manic episodes in bipolar people. At least one case of insomnia is reported, so it's often advised to take SAM-e at morning. Long time side effects are not investigated.
The SAM-e supplement is used for:
1. Liver diseases. In Europe it's marketed as a hepatoprotector, even though there aren't many human studies advocating its usage. Nevertheless, in countries where it's used in treatment people report their bloodwork improves after SAM-e. It may also indirectly influence hormones such as androgens and thyroid hormones. There's an old study from 1987 saying it increases testosterone https://www.ergo-log.com/sametest.html
2. Depression. Unlike many prescribed antidepressants, SAMe is not hepatotoxic and has less side effects overall. There are many studies proving it's as effective for depression as Imipramine, Desipramine, Clomipramine, Minaprine, Amitriptyline etc when taken orally at 800~1600 mg. Usually it's not used in treatment of depression though. I've also been told people use it (probably inject?) after MDMA to increase the effect when their own serotonin is used up.
Effectiveness of SAM-e for major depression
3. Osteoarthritis. Lacks evidence.
4. Heightmaxxing. It was promoted by xcrunner211, whom many consider a scammer. Also by @Strike_Poseidon from here. People advocating its usage think that growth plates never ossify fully and if we increase DNA methylation we can reverse the age and cause growth at any age. Xcrunner211 said it should be taken at 2000 mg, together with folic acid, for at least 6 months. Anyway, it definitely increases IGF-1, a hormone required for growth. There are studies saying methionine restrictive diet is associated with increased lifespan, which is common "side effect" of low IGF-1 (I hope you already know that you can only choose either productivity with high IGF-1 and T, or longevity with low hormone levels).
In the US it's considered a dietary supplement and most commonly used to imporve mood, but in Europe, China, Mexico etc it's marketed as a prescription drug, they treat liver diseases with it. It usually takes a week to a month to notice effects of SAM-e.
Oral SAM-e is only 5% bioavailable, while injectable SAM-e is almost 100% bioavailable. So, when taken orally, minimum dose should be 400~800 mg, and 1200~1600 mg doses are proposed. Note that it's very expensive. Side effects are rare and include gastrointestinal issues and manic episodes in bipolar people. At least one case of insomnia is reported, so it's often advised to take SAM-e at morning. Long time side effects are not investigated.
The SAM-e supplement is used for:
1. Liver diseases. In Europe it's marketed as a hepatoprotector, even though there aren't many human studies advocating its usage. Nevertheless, in countries where it's used in treatment people report their bloodwork improves after SAM-e. It may also indirectly influence hormones such as androgens and thyroid hormones. There's an old study from 1987 saying it increases testosterone https://www.ergo-log.com/sametest.html
2. Depression. Unlike many prescribed antidepressants, SAMe is not hepatotoxic and has less side effects overall. There are many studies proving it's as effective for depression as Imipramine, Desipramine, Clomipramine, Minaprine, Amitriptyline etc when taken orally at 800~1600 mg. Usually it's not used in treatment of depression though. I've also been told people use it (probably inject?) after MDMA to increase the effect when their own serotonin is used up.
Effectiveness of SAM-e for major depression
| Study | SAMe treatment | Comparison drug | Result |
| Pancheri P. et al., 2002 | 400 mg intramuscular 4 weeks (n=146) | Imipramine 150 mg oral (n=147) | SAMe=IMI |
| Delle Chiaie R. et al., 2002 | 1600 mg oral 4w (n=143) | Imipramine 150 mg oral (n=138) | SAMe=IMI |
| 400 mg intramuscular 6w (n=147) | IMI 150 mg oral (n=148) | SAMe=IMI | |
| Bell M.B. et al., 1990 | 1600 mg oral 4w (n=12) | Desipramine 250 mg oral (n=13) | SAMe=DMI |
| Salmaggi P. et al., 1993 | 1600 mg oral 30 days (n=30) | Placebo (n=30) | SAMe>PBO |
| Kagan B.L. et al., 1990 | 1600 mg oral 3w (n=9) | PBO (n=9) | SAMe>PBO |
| Fava M. et al., 1992 | 1600 mg oral 6w (n=24) | PBO (n=31) | SAMe=PBO |
| De Vanna M., Rigamonti R., 1992 | 1600 mg oral 6w (n=11) | IMI 150 mg oral (n=11) | SAMe=IMI |
| Janicak P.G. et al., 1988 | 400 mg intravenous 2w (n=7) | IMI 150 mg oral (n=3) | SAMe=IMI |
| 400 mg intravenous 2w (n=7) | PBO (n=5) | SAMe>PBO | |
| Bell K.M. et al., 1988 | 400 mg intravenous 2w (n=11) | IMI 150 mg oral (n=11) | SAMe>IMI |
| Carney M.W. et al., 1986 | 200 mg intravenous 2w (n=15) | PBO (n=17) | SAMe=PBO, SAMe>PBO |
| Caruso I. et al., 1984 | 200 mg intramuscular 3w (n=25) | PBO (n=24) | SAMe>PBO |
3. Osteoarthritis. Lacks evidence.
4. Heightmaxxing. It was promoted by xcrunner211, whom many consider a scammer. Also by @Strike_Poseidon from here. People advocating its usage think that growth plates never ossify fully and if we increase DNA methylation we can reverse the age and cause growth at any age. Xcrunner211 said it should be taken at 2000 mg, together with folic acid, for at least 6 months. Anyway, it definitely increases IGF-1, a hormone required for growth. There are studies saying methionine restrictive diet is associated with increased lifespan, which is common "side effect" of low IGF-1 (I hope you already know that you can only choose either productivity with high IGF-1 and T, or longevity with low hormone levels).
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