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Depression is a common problem that is often not spoken about. Most people suffer depression in silence feeling ostracized from the communities around them. In fact, in the United States, depression affects 5 to 12 percent of men and 10-25 percent of women.As rates of depression have soared, so has research surrounding natural remedies for helping treat this illness. One of these remedies, known as S-Adenosyl L Methionine (SAMe) has shown promising results.SAMe is a natural compound that seems to function as a methyl donor to many proteins, lipids, and neurotransmitters involved in depression.A large review was undertaken with a goal of evaluating scientific research studies surrounding SAMe and depression1. Twenty-eight studies were included in this review.
The reviewers found that in controlled studies, compared to placebo, SAMe supplements taken for three weeks were associated with improvements of approximately six points in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. This degree of improvement is considered both clinically and statistically significant.
In addition, several studies have found that SAMe is as effective as prescription medication. An Italian study found that SAMe was as effective as a prescription triclycic antidepressant. In addition to its effectiveness, SAMe takers reported fewer side effects than the group on the prescription medication.
Of course, if you suffer from depression, be sure to talk to your doctor before you take SAMe. Taking SAMe while on antidepressants can be dangerous.
If your doctor recommends SAMe, it is available from your local health store or click here to purchase from Physician’s Preference and save 10-20%!
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. August 2002.
This entry was posted on Monday, June 19th, 2006 at 6:21 pm and is filed under Health & Wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
