Hi! Bob:
    To get more info on SAM-e and PD, do the following:
    On the internet please go the site of PubMed
    Search for:  S-adenosyl-methionine and Parkinson's disease
    You shall run into several articles; some are by Lamango, NS.

    Also read an article by Kathrynne    Halden in askthedietitian column on
13th or 14th of July 2002.  According to her it is n knwn that SAM-e or
SAMMY of SAM (S-adenosyl-methionine) is good or bad fr PD patients.
    Good Luck!
    Raj
    [log in to unmask]
***************************

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Allison" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2002 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: News Bite: Sam-e and Parkinson's


> Raj   I respect yur thoroughness and I remember you saying that you read
an
> article that implied that SAMe was not good for PD.  Haas my memory
tricked
> me again or do you have a reference that you can share.  Thanks Bob
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ask dietitian" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: "Ask the Parkinson Dietitian" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2002 4:50 PM
> Subject: News Bite: Sam-e and Parkinson's
>
>
> > --- Begin Message ---
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> >
> > What is SAMe?
> > In the past few years, there has been increasing interest in a substance
> > called S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe ("sammy") for short. SAMe is a
> > molecule present in cells throughout the human body. It contains a group
> > of atoms called a "methyl group." It's importance lies in the fact that
> > it can donate this methyl group to another molecule, to form a new
> > substance, often an enzyme. This donation is called "methylation," and
it
> > is vitally important to human life. So, SAMe is necessary for good
> > health. Supplement  manufacturers claim that it can improve arthritis,
> > liver health, depression, and other conditions.
> >
> > SAMe itself must be manufactured by our bodies, and to do this, the B
> > vitamins folate and B12 are needed. When SAMe is used by the body, it
> > results in an increased level of "homocysteine" in the blood.
> > Homocysteine is a compound that has been associated with cardiovascular
> > disease. The body normally uses the vitamins B6, B12, and folate,
> > along with more SAMe, to eliminate homocysteine from the blood.
> >
> > SAMe is an antioxidant, and animal studies have demonstrated that it
> > reduced oxidative stress in the brains of rats. Decreased levels of SAMe
> > have  been found in persons with a number of diseases, including
> > depression
> > and Parkinson's disease (PD). Also, people with PD who use levodopa for
> > a prolonged time have been found to have increased levels of
> > homocysteine in the blood and decreased levels of SAMe in the brain.
> > Given this information, researchers would like to know whether
> > taking supplements of SAMe could benefit people with depression, PD, and
> > other diseases.
> >
> > In a small study of 13 people who had both PD and depression, study
> > subjects were given supplements of SAMe for 30 days. Two subjects
dropped
> > out of the study. There were no benefits seen on PD symptoms, nor was
> > there any reduction in need for levodopa. However, the study
> > subjects' depression was improved significantly. Although this study is
> > encouraging, it did not contain a control group, and was too small to
> > offer strong evidence that SAMe was effective.
> >
> > Is it safe for people with Parkinson's disease to take SAMe?
> > There's no good answer at this time, because no long-term studies have
> > been performed. In the studies done so far, there are few reported side
> > effects, but no one knows what the long-term effects, if any, might be.
> >
> > Should you try SAMe?
> > People with PD should consult their physician before trying SAMe,
> > particularly if using levodopa, tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, or MAO
> > inhibitors.
> >
> > Some neurologists advise their patients against use of SAMe; it is
> > expensive, and there is little research to provide guidance. Other
> > neurologists are willing for their patients to give SAMe a try, under
> > their supervision. This is especially important for those using
levodopa,
> > because it's possible that SAMe could interfere with levodopa with
> > long-term use. General recommendations range from 200-400 mg per day;
> > however, research studies have used as much as 800-3600 mg per day. It
may
> > take several weeks to see results.
> >
> > Anecdotally, some people state that they feel better upon taking SAMe,
or
> > have less depression. Some report an improvement in other symptoms, such
> > as constipation. Others find little or no benefit.
> >
> > The bottom line: It's too soon to make recommendations for or against
use
> > of SAMe by people with Parkinson's disease. If you would like to try it,
> > be aware that it's expensive; and consult your physician first.
> >   --Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
> > For this, and other Parkinson Tips of the Day, visit:
> > http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/
> >
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