This common supplement could cause kidney and liver damage, scientists warn

Biologists have warned against buying or using a common dietary supplement until it is proven to be safe. The drug marketed under the name SAMe, short for S-adenosylmethionine, purports to ease joint pain and improve liver conditions as well as promote wellbeing. But scientists say it could be toxic and dangerous to the health of consumers.

Potential liver and kidney damage

The team of international researchers from Manchester and Kyoto universities say studies show the supplement can break down inside the body into substances that cause a wide range of medical problems, including kidney and liver damage. Experiments conducted by the team revealed that the SAMe breaks down into toxic substances which should not be in the body. Jean-Michel Fustin, of Manchester University, said:

When we gave the supplement to mice, we expected they would become healthier. But instead we found the opposite. We found that when SAMe breaks down in the body, it produces very toxic molecules, including adenine, which causes gout, kidney disease and liver disease.

Although the experiment was done on mice, the supplements were added to human cells in laboratories and the results came back the same, according to the study published in Communications Biology.

Questionable benefits

SAMe is available to buy over the counter in pharmacies across the UK and on the internet. It is promoted for relieving joint pain, improved mobility, liver health and for a ‘positive mood’. Some people also buy it for liver-related issues pertaining to dogs and cats. But this new study shows that the purported health benefits of SAMe are questionable. Fustin added:

The health benefits that manufacturers claim are questionable to say the very least. And because it’s unclear what dose is safe, there is a good chance that a safe dose will be exceeded – if one exists at all. I would advise the public to steer clear of SAMe, at the very least until we understand more about its effect on human health.

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