I have not read the book but would like to report to the general public that I am a perfectly healthy 46 year old man who within one week of taking 800 mg/day of Sam-E was stricken with a nearly fatal pulmonary embolism from deep venous thrombosis. I am from a very distinguished medical family (including the world's singular most influential cardiologist) who is certain that the increase in homocysteine levels produced by SamE are intensely thrombogenic. During my 3 week hospital stay, I was tested in a search for any possible medical cause for this episode, from the obvious to the "zebras in Montana" and the etiology remains idiopathic. BE SURE NEVER TO TAKE THIS "SUPPLEMENT" without simultaneously increasing your intake of Folic Acid, or it can be a killer.

It is a thankless task to respond to reviews such as those of Mr. Levine, but as the author of this book, I have an obligation to set the record straight. First, the condition which afflicted him typically reflects months or years of years of dietary habits -- and, perhaps, genetics -- not a handful of days on a supplement. Second, even a brief review of the medical literature will show that in situations such as his, blood tests usually indicate below normal SAMe levels. Third, a short term trial with SAMe showed that the supplement either has no effect upon homocysteine blood levels or actually lowers these, again, in the near term. There has been no research which looks at the long term impact upon homocysteine blood levels. Fourth, SAMe has been tested with literally tens of thousands of patients over periods ranging up to several years. As far as I can tell, no medical study has ever reported a side effect such as his. Indeed, SAMe is considered to be extraordinarily safe. Finally, had Mr. Levine actually read my books, he would have noticed that I suggest the supplements folic acid, trimethyglycine, and the vitamins B-6 and B-12 as useful for reducing homocysteine levels. As for the 5 stars, I could not post a response without giving a star rating.

LEARNING ABOUT THE METHOLATION PROCESS AND HOW THIS PROCESS ACTUALLY DETERMINES THE HEALTH OF OUR BODIES IS VITAL TO UNDERSTANDING AND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BODY. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN EVERY BIOLOGY AND HEALTH CLASS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. UNDERSTANDING THE SEEMING COMPLEXITIES OF WHAT CAUSES OUR BODIES TO MALFUNCTION AND THE WHAT WE CAN DO TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE RESULTING DISEASES IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO EVERYONE. IT IS TOO BAD THAT THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION IS NOT IN THE HEADLINES INSTEAD OF MANY OF THE SCARE STORIES. THIS LITTLE GEM OF A BOOK IS WORTH MANY TIMES MORE THAN THE PRICE. AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DIABETES AND CHRONIC LIVER - HEPATITIS "C" I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS MIGHT BE AND HOW I CAN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THESE CONDITIONS.