SAMe (also known as SAM-e, S-adenosyl-methionine, or S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is a popular supplement. A naturally occurring amino acid, SAMe has a wide range of potential benefits. It is used as a treatment for osteoarthritis and associated joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation, and SAMe is a natural therapy for treating depression. SAMe has also been used for the treatment of fibromyalgia, liver disease, AIDS-related myelopathy, Parkinson’s disease, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.
There are a wide variety of supplements that offer SAMe. However, a recent report from Consumer Lab indicates that many supplements do not contain the amount of SAMe indicated on the bottle. Consumer Lab tested a number of popular multivitamins to determine if they contained the amount of SAMe represented on labels. While most of the products contained the represented amounts, Consumer Lab identified two popular supplements that did not contain the advertised amounts.
Integrative Therapeutics Vitaline SAMe represents that each pill contains 200 mg of SAMe; Consumer Lab found only 149 mg (74.5%). The label on Maxam Nutraceutics SAMe appears to be even more deceptive. This supplement, a liquid, did not contain any detectable SAMe, despite the explicit claim that it provides 100 mg for every eight sprays of a blend of “SAM-e, Co-Enzyme Q10, Hyaluronidase, Bromeliain, Brewer’s Yeast Extract.” Consumer Lab also noted that the supplement likely contains no CoQ10; that compound is bright orange, but the spray is clear.
Consumer Lab also tested S-Adenosyl 100 for pets. The pill they tested rapidly disintegrated in a gastric solution; most SAMe supplements include an enteric coating to prevent premature dissolution in stomach acid. However, S-Adenosyl appears not to have a proper coating.
If you or someone you know purchased Integrative Therapeutics Vitaline SAMe, Maxam Nutraceutics SAMe or S-Adenosyl 100, please contact us to discuss your legal options