Gnosis said that the findings strengthen the science underlying its patented brand of SAMe branded as Adonat Premium, formulated by a biotransformation process of saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cultures which aims to support healthy mood and emotional well-being.
"Exploring new natural solutions is important for enhancing mental health care," said Jean-François Jeanne, substantiation and applications manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre. "In the realm of depression management, where conventional approaches encounter obstacles such as treatment discontinuation and low success rates, there is a growing acknowledgment of the significance of exploring alternatives to overcome challenges with traditional methods."
“We are very happy with the findings presented in these meta-analyses,” he added. “It is gratifying to see the scientific community taking into account SAMe’s potential for maintaining health and improving quality of life.”
Lorena Carboni, scientific communications specialist at Gnosis, highlighted the significance of the findings and the potential for SAMe to be used to regulate mood at an early stage.
“Mood impairment can be an early warning sign of depression,” she noted. “However, some people may experience mood modifications despite not asking or receiving a diagnosis of depression. These individuals can make dietary and lifestyle changes, such as incorporating mood-boosting substances like SAMe and engaging in regular exercise, to promote positive mental well-being and have mood-enhancing effects, potentially improving the overall mood.”
The demand for anti-depressant alternatives
Depression is known to impact around 280 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), resulting in a significant impact to quality of life for many.
Despite the increased availability of ADs, these treatment options can often prove ineffective for many. As many as 29% to 46% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) continue to have symptoms following AD use, highlighting the need to identify more effective therapies with limited adverse side effects.
Previous research has observed that people with MDD may have lower levels of SAMe within their cerebrospinal fluid. Intakes of SAMe have been shown to increase the concentrations within this fluid and thus, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier to potentially benefit the biochemicals mechanisms associated with MDD.
Strengthening evidence
The review conducted by Limveeraprajak et al. included 23 randomised controlled trials, with five trials comparing SAMe plus ADs and a placebo plus ADs, and a further seven comparing SAMe and ADs. In addition to SAMe demonstrating significantly superior efficacy compared to control, SAMe exhibited no significant difference in the reduction of depressive symptoms compared to the ADs.
"SAMe monotherapy is generally well-tolerated and probably effective for the treatment of depression,” the Thai researchers concluded. “Oral SAMe monotherapy should be a treatment option for patients with depression, particularly those who are intolerant of AD side effects or have liver impairment."
The second review by Peng et al. analysed 14 randomised controlled trials which investigated the effects of SAMe supplementation at dosages varying from 200 mg to 3,200mg for a study duration ranging between two and 12 weeks.
"In conclusion, our meta-analysis revealed that SAMe may potentially be effective in treating patients with depression," the Taiwanese researchers reported. "SAMe is similar to imipramine or escitalopram in its effect on depression symptoms and represents another option for treating depression."
Despite the significant evidence to support the association intakes of SAMe and mood regulation, the researchers drew attention to potential bias resulting from significant between-study heterogeneity.
"It's crucial to resolve uncertainties and inconsistencies in past research on SAMe's effectiveness for depression," Carboni emphasised. "Further research is needed to fully understand SAMe's effectiveness and mechanisms in managing this."
She added the importance of future research investigating the role of nutrients like folates or vitamin K used in conjunction with SAMe and whether these could enhance its effectiveness.
"Gnosis is going ahead with a specific project to better substantiate the nutritional approach to mood and cognitive health because we are nurtured by the new interest shown by the scientific international community," she noted.
Source: General Hospital Psychiatry
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2024.01.001
“S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) as an adjuvant therapy for patients with depression: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis”
Authors: Tzu-Rong Peng et al.
Source: Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110985
“Efficacy and acceptability of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) for depressed patients: A systematic review and meta- analysis”
Authors: Nahathai Limveeraprajak et al.