SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is a naturally occurring compound found in all human tissue and organs. It is a “building block” necessary for the production of many compounds produced by your body, and is used in over 35 different biochemical reactions. SAMe actually donates a part of itself to form these new compounds through a process called methylation or transmethylation. SAME is one of the few dietary supplements on the market today that combines the benefits of several nutrients into one, because the body uses the substances produced from SAMe for numerous bodily reactions and processes.

Are there any side effects associated with SAMe supplementation?

SAMe is a very safe dietary supplement. Minor side effects include nausea and gastrointestinal irritation, due to its sulfur content. These were only noted at very high doses (1200-1600mg) and symptoms diminished with continued use. Persons suffering from manic depression (bipolar disorder) should not take SAMe without prior consultation with their physician. If you experience any of the symptoms above for an extended period of time, you may be allergic to SAMe, or it may not be the right supplement for you.

Why is the dosage information with SAMe supplements so confusing?

SAMe in its ion form as found in human cells has a very short life span and is rapidly metabolized into other necessary compounds as needed, which is good! However, this natural form does not lend itself to the production of a stable and effective dietary supplement. It took scientists years to come up with a way to stabilize SAMe so it could be manufactured as a dietary supplement. It was finally discovered that SAMe must be manufactured in a salt form to prevent rapid degradation. In its salt form, you will actually get 200mg of SAMe in its stable salt form. However, only half of this 200mg is actually raw SAMe ions, hence its yield of 100mg.

Are there size or color variations with your SAMe products, and should SAMe be refrigerated?

Because of the nature of SAMe, NOW® takes special precautions when packaging this product. We bottle SAMe in amber glass bottles to keep light exposure to a minimum, and keep SAMe products refrigerated in our plant until shipping. It is not necessary to keep SAMe refrigerated after purchase, but it can extend the shelf life of the product.

Because SAMe is a natural product, there can be variations in color, usually ranging from white to pale yellow or tan. This is normal and does not mean the product is expired. You may also notice a difference in tablet size. We recently reformulated our SAMe to include less excipients, so there are two different tablet sizes on the market at this time.