Wednesday June 18, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Currently, clinicians use tricyclic antidepressants to treat functional abdominal pain (FAP). These antidepressants increase risk of suicidal ideation and other side effects.  A study suggests that S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) a dietary supplement can be as effective as an antidepressant to treat chronic pain.

The current study was conducted with six patients involved to demonstrate the efficacy of S-adenosylmethionine in treating FAP, improving quality of life and inducing no or only minimal toxicity in children with FAP.

For the study, participants were treated with S-adenosylmethionine in an initial dose of 200 mg per day and a maximum dose of 1400 mg per day at the University of California, San Diego, and pain and quality of life were measured at baseline and after 2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months of treatment.  The toxicity of the supplement was monitored by measuring the liver toxicity, mania and depression throughout the trial.

During the 2-month treatment, self-reports of pain were improved.  The median dose of S-adenosylmethionine  at 2 months of treatment was 1400 mg per day.  Liver function was normal, and neither mania nor depression was observed.

The study concluded "Oral SAM-e demonstrates promise in reducing abdominal pain among children with FAP, with minimal toxicity." (David Liu, PHD)

Choi LJ, Huang JS.  A pilot study of S-adenosylmethionine in treatment of functional abdominal pain in children.  Altern Ther Health Med. 2013 Sep-Oct;19(5):61-4.