S-adenosyl-L-methionine (commonly called “SAM-e”), a naturally-occurring metabolite
engaged in over 200 essential chemical reactions within all cells of the body, was discovered
in 1952. SAM-e is safe both short and long-term because it is a substance that the body
needs more of as we age or if we get ill. It is more like a vitamin or an amino acid than a
drug.
It has been approved as a prescription drug for depression in Germany, Italy, Spain and
Russia, and has been in use in Europe for over three decades. It was released in the United
States for non-prescription sale in 1999. SAM-e participates in the synthesis of many
essential molecules, including the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine and
serotonin, which are implicated in major depression. SAM-e has an important role in the
structure of the lipid bilayer in cell membranes, perhaps altering their electrical properties
to facilitate transmission. This in turn appears to affect mood.
