SAM-e (S-Adenosyl methionine)

Home » Supplements » SAM-e (S-Adenosyl methionine)

Depression

In 2004 the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology published a 6-week trial in which 30 subjects with major depressive disorder who were already taking either an SSRI or venlafaxine received 800 to 1600 mg of SAM-e per day. The result was a 50 percent response rate and a 43 percent remission rate. [Source]
In 2015 Pharmacopsychiatry published a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 51 males and 62 females which found that SAM-e was superior to a placebo in treating depression in men but not in women. [Source]
In 2010 The American Journal of Psychiatry published a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 73 patients who did not respond to SSRI treatment were given 2 doses of 800 mg of SAM-e per day while they continued SSRI treatment. SAM-e performed better than a placebo in improving depression. [Source]
In 2002 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a 2-part study involving 281 and 295 subjects (lasting 6 and 4 weeks, respectively) which found that both 1600 mg oral SAM-e and 400 mg intramuscular SAM-e performed as well as 150 mg/day of the tricyclic antidepressant, imipramine. SAM-e was also significantly better tolerated than imipramine. [Source]

In 2004 BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders published a double-blind study comparing 1200 of SAM-e to 200 mg of celecoxib (brand name, Celebrex) for 16 weeks in 56 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The results showed that SAM-e is as effective as celecoxib, though it has a slower onset. [Source]
In 2002 The Journal of Family Practice published a meta-analysis of 2 studies comparing SAM-e to NSAIDS and a placebo for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The data showed that SAM-e is comparable with NSAIDS for reducing pain and functional limitations associated with osteoarthritis and has the advantage of being much better tolerated. [Source]
In 2009 Clinical Therapeutics published an 8-week, double-blind study involving 134 patients which found that 1200 mg/day of SAM-e was as effective as 1000 mg/day of the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), nabumetone in treating osteoarthritis of the knee. [Source]

In 2012 European Psychiatry published a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which patients not responding to SSRI treatment were given additional treatment of SAM-e or a placebo. The authors note that 58-73 percent of those receiving antidepressants experience sexual dysfunction. In this study SAM-e significantly lowered erectile dysfunction compared to a placebo. The researchers also note that SAM-e can also have a positive benefit on male arousal independent of depressive symptoms. [Source]

In 2003 The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry published an animal study which investigated the effect of SAM-e on mice with liver injury due to acute alcohol administration. SAM-e was able to significantly reduce liver injury by raising antioxidant levels. [Source]

In 2004 BMC Psychiatry published an 8-week, open trial in which 20 HIV-positive patients saw an acute reduction in depressive symptoms after taking SAM-e. [Source]

In 2010 the Public Library of Science published a pilot study in which 29 CHC (chronic hepatitis C) patients who failed previous therapy with an antiviral drug were treated SAM-e along with other treatments. The researchers concluded that the addition of SAM-e improved the body’s response to CHC. [Source]