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SAMe has been used as a prescription drug in Europe for years. In fact, many people choose it over Prozac in Italy. The nutrient has been studied by researchers for more than 25 years for ailments as diverse as headaches and infertility, and it works faster than St. John's wort.

S-denosylmethionine - SAMe - is formed by the union of the amino acid methionine and ATP, the body's cellular energy supply. SAMe(pronounced "Sammy") has a hand in more than 40 vital biochemical processes. It's required to manufacture sulfur-containing compounds, such as the antioxidant glutathione and some cartilage components. SAMe helps produce neurotransmitters in the brain and even regulates our genes. It does all this through a process called methylation.

It's best to take SAMe on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast and 30 minutes before lunch. Take enteric-coated tablets to ensure best absorption. Dosage varies, depending on what is being addressed. In the treatment of any disease, advice from a medical professional familiar with nutritional therapies is advised. These dosage guidelines are based on research to date:DEPRESSION: 400 mg daily. ARTHRITIS: 800 mg daily for the first two weeks then reduce to 400 mg dally. LIVER DISORDERS: 1,200 mg dally. FIBROMYALGIA: 200 t0 800 mg dally, depending on individual needs.

SAMe donates a four-atom limb, called a methyl group, to a molecule in need, and that molecule goes on to do its work, such as preserving cell membranes or helping to enhance your mood. This methylation process occurs about a billion times a second throughout the body.

So widespread and far-reaching are its effects that Craig Cooney, Ph.D., author of Methyl Magic, (Andrews McMeel, 1999), says, "Without methylation there would be no life at all." There are other methyl donors, but SAMe is the most effective one.

SAMe donates its methyl groups to DNA, protein and phospholipids. DNA methylation allows our genes to get to work, regulating cell growth and repair, healing wounds, creating immune cells and more. Researchers speculate that under-methylation of DNA is a factor in cancer, because the body doesn't then have enough of the raw materials it needs to repair damaged cells before they become cancerous.

The methylation of protein is crucial for cellular growth and repair. If the process becomes sluggish, vital organ systems, such as the heart and brain, can deteriorate. In the brain, this sluggishness can cause depression, but supplementing with SAMe can increase levels of neurotransmitters and the number of receptors for these chemical messengers. SAMe helps phospholipids, fat-like substances that make up cell membranes, retain their flexibility. It also increases production of phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid involved with mood and memory.