Nature MadeSAM-e Complete™**

• Products & Dosing
• Mechanism of Action
• Clinical/Case Studies
• Patient Resources

Healthcare Professionals Section

• Clinical Studies
• Other References
• Back to Healthcare Professionals Section

Clinical/Case Studies

Although SAM-e is not a prescription product in the United States, it has been extensively studied in over 100 trials around the world. We’ve included a list of clinical studies, as well as case studies and a list of other references on the topic.

In addition, we share below some high level statistics on both SAM-e and research around the use of SAM-e for the treatment of depression.

Depression Facts

• By the year 2020, depression is projected to become the second most common cause of disability among persons of all ages and both genders worldwide 1


• In any given one-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or 18.8 million American adults, suffer from some form of depression 2


• Women in the U.S. experience depression about twice as often as men 2


• According to the National Institute of Mental Health: There are several forms of depressive disorders. The most common are major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder.




• Major depressive disorder, also called major depression, is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, it recurs throughout a person’s life.


• Dysthymic disorder, also called dysthymia, is characterized by long-term (two years or longer) but less severe symptoms that may not disable a person but can prevent one from functioning normally or feeling well. People with dysthymia may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during their lifetimes.

• Some forms of depressive disorder exhibit slightly different characteristics than those described above, or they may develop under unique circumstances. However, not all scientists agree on how to characterize and define these forms of depression. They include:

• Psychotic depression, which occurs when a severe depressive illness is accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as a break with reality, hallucinations, and delusions.
• Postpartum depression, which is diagnosed if a new mother develops a major depressive episode within one month after delivery. It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of women experience postpartum depression after giving birth. 1
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is characterized by the onset of a depressive illness during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. The depression generally lifts during spring and summer. SAD may be effectively treated with light therapy, but nearly half of those with SAD do not respond to light therapy alone. Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy can reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or in combination with light therapy. 2
• Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, is not as common as major depression or dysthymia. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes-from extreme highs (e.g., mania) to extreme lows (e.g., depression). Visit the NIMH website for more information about bipolar disorder. 2

SAM-e and Depression

• To date, there are at least 48 clinical trials using SAM-e in the treatment of depression 3




• 19 using SAM-e vs. drug control (1,134 patients)


• 16 open, uncontrolled (660 patients)


• 13 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (537 patients)


• Harvard researchers conducted 4 of the trials (287 patients)

• SAM-e is shown to be an effective antidepressant without the side effects often associated with several

prescription treatments such as weight gain, dry mouth, loss of libido, insomnia, etc. 4


• SAM-e is shown to reduce depressive symptoms in as little as 7 days 3


• SAM-e levels in the blood increase in relation to the degree of mood improvement in depressed patients regardless of the type of treatment 5


• SAM-e is shown to be effective in reducing or relieving the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychological distress 3


• SAM-e is shown to be effective in treating depressed postmenopausal women 7


• SAM-e is shown to be effective in reducing prolactin levels in depressed patients – high prolactin levels are associated with decreased libido 8


• SAM-e is shown to be effective in treating depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease 9 10


• SAM-e is shown to be effective in treating depression in patients with HIV 11

Footnotes

1 World Health Organization, Murray & Lopez, 1996
2 Depression. NIH Publication No. 00-3561. 2000.
3 Brown RP, Gerbarg P, Bottiglieri T. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) for depression. Psychiatric Annals. 2002;32:29-44.
4 Kagan BL, Sultzer DL, Rosenlicht N, Gerner RH. Oral S-adenosylmethionine in depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Psychiatry. 1990;147:591-595.
5 Bell KM, Potkin SG, Carreon D, Plon L. S-adenosylmethionine plasma levels in major depression: changes with drug treatment. Acta Neurol Scand. 1994;Suppl. 154:15-18.
6 Cerutti R, Sichel MP, Perin M, Grussu P, Zulian O. Psychological distress during puerperium: a novel therapeutic approach using S-adenosylmethionine. Current Therapeutic Research. 1993;53:707-716.
7 Salmaggi P, Bressa GM, Nicchia G, Coniglio M, La Greca P, Le Grazie C. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in depressed postmenopausal women. Psychother Psychosom. 1993;59:34-40.
8 Thomas CS, Bottiglieri T, Edeh J, Carney MWP, Reynolds EH, Toone BK. The influence of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) on prolactin in depressed patients. International Clinical Psychopharmacology. 1987;2:97-102.
9 Carrieri PB, Indaco A, Gentile S, Troisi E, Campanella G. S-adenosylmethionine treatment of depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a double-blind, crossover study versus placebo. Current Therapeutic Research. 1990;48:154-160.
10 Di Rocco A, Rogers JD, Brown R, Werner P, Bottiglieri T. S-adenosyl-methionine improves depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease in an open-label clinical trial. Movement Disorders. 2000;15:1225-1229.
11 Shippy, RA, Mendez, D, Jones, K, Cergnul, I, Karpiak, S. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) for the treatment of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS. BMC Psychiatry. 2004; 4: 38