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 .
S-adenosylmethionine treatment of depression: a controlled clinical trial.
The antidepressant properties of S-adenosylmethionine , an endogenous methyl donor , were studied in in patients who met the DSM-III criteria for major depression . Nine patients given intravenous S-adenosylmethionine and nine given low oral doses of imipramine  were compared in a double-blind design for 14 days . The S-adenosylmethionine produced superior results by the end of the first week of treatment . By the end of the second week , 66 % of the S-adenosylmethionine patients had a clinical ly significant improvement in depressive symptoms , compared to 22 % of the imipramine patients . Side effects appeared to be fewer with S-adenosylmethionine than with imipramine during the last 5 days of the study
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 .