SAMe was not different from placebo and established antidepressants .
The exception was that compared to imipramine , fewer participants experienced troublesome adverse effects when treated with parenteral SAMe .
BACKGROUND Depression is a recurrent illness with high rates of chronicity , treatment-resistance and significant economic impact .
There is evidence in the literature that S-adenosyl methionine ( SAMe ) , a naturally occurring compound in the human body , has antidepressant efficacy .
This product may be an important addition to the armamentarium of antidepressant agents .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of SAMe in comparison with placebo or antidepressants for the treatment of depression in adults .
Oral S-adenosylmethionine in depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Methylation has been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric illness . Parenteral S-adenosylmethionine , a methyl group donor , has been shown to be an effective antidepressant . The authors studied the antidepressant effect of oral S-adenosylmethionine in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial for 15 in patients with major depression . The results suggest that oral S-adenosylmethionine is a safe , effective antidepressant with few side effects and a rapid onset of action .  S-Adenosylmethionine induced mania in a patient with no history of mania . S-Adenosylmethionine may be useful for patients who can not tolerate tricyclic anti-depressants . These findings support a role for methylation in the pathophysiology of depression
SAMe was not different from placebo and established antidepressants .
The exception was that compared to imipramine , fewer participants experienced troublesome adverse effects when treated with parenteral SAMe .
BACKGROUND Depression is a recurrent illness with high rates of chronicity , treatment-resistance and significant economic impact .
There is evidence in the literature that S-adenosyl methionine ( SAMe ) , a naturally occurring compound in the human body , has antidepressant efficacy .
This product may be an important addition to the armamentarium of antidepressant agents .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of SAMe in comparison with placebo or antidepressants for the treatment of depression in adults .