Biologists warn against toxic SAMe ‘health’ supplement

A group of biologists warn that a supplement sold in the UK could be toxic and should not be used until it is shown to be safe.

The team, from Manchester and Kyoto universities, reported last week that the supplement SAMe can cause a wide range of medical problems.

SAMe is marketed online in the UK as an agent that can help a range of conditions, including joints and liver diseases, and promote emotional wellbeing. Experiments carried out by Jean-Michel Fustin and his colleagues have shown that SAMe breaks down into two substances in the body. He said that these substances are toxic.

Fustin said last week that the discovery came out of the blue. We found the opposite. When SAMe breaks down in the body, it produces very toxic molecules, including adenine, which causes gout.

Fustin said that their study was relevant for humans, even though it was carried out on mice.

In the UK, SAMe is not sold over the counter. Many companies offer the supplement for sale on the internet as an agent for promoting a positive mood and joint comfort. It's marketed as an agent for promoting health in dogs and cats.

We studied the impact that SAMe had on the body clock of mice and found that it didn't improve them. Fustin said it was clear something was wrong.

Fustin said that the health benefits of SAMe are questionable because of the study funded by the Medical Research Council and the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science.

The MRHA was asked for a response.