SAM-e

Not an herb, hormone, vitamin, or any other kind of nutrient, SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) is a synthetic form of a chemical produced naturally in the body. SAM-e is essential to a many chemical processes, including maintaining cells, manufacturing substances used by the nerves, and influencing emotions and moods.

Claims, purported benefits: "Natural" treatment for depression, arthritis, and liver disease. Said to be as effective as aspirin for pain relief, without the side effects. In Europe, on evidence that would be considered inadequate here, SAM-e is sold as a prescription drug for depression, arthritis, and liver disease. In the U.S. and Canada, SAM-e is unregulated.

Bottom line: Some studies suggest that SAM-e might be an effective treatment for depression, with fewer side effects than antidepressant drugs. But the real benefits and risks of SAM-e are still unclear. People with depression or joint pain should seek medical advice before trying SAM-e. In 2002 the U.S. Public Health Service issued a massive review of 90 studies of SAM-e. Nothing new came out of this huge effort, though ads from manufacturers of SAM-e may state otherwise. This government survey was not a clinical trial—just a summation of trials, no matter how brief or poorly designed. More research is needed on SAM-e, including clarification of what an effective dose might be. Though its marketers boldly claim that SAM-e has no side effects, people taking high doses have reported headache, stomach upset, insomnia, and dizziness. SAM-e can bring on manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder.