[I'm definitely not an advocate for using SSRIs but from all reports SAM-e could be a safe and effective alternative to those drugs in many cases. The anti-inflammatory properties are well known and really help with things like osteoarthritis. Keep in mind that I'm not a doctor, I just play one here on RMN . . . SC]

By Zoey Sky - October 18, 2022

(Natural News) Depression, a mental health issue characterized by feelings of hopelessness and fatigue, can significantly affect your mood and quality of life.

This condition is very common. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 21 million adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2020 alone.

Western medicine has attempted to treat depression with pharmaceutical drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but this treatment isn’t always effective. Researchers from Harvard University reported that at least 40 to 50 percent of depressed patients don’t achieve an “adequate response” after initial treatment.

Fortunately, things are looking up because research has found that a natural compound called S-adenosyl methionine (SAM-e) may help boost your mood naturally.

According to a review published in the journal Annals of General Psychiatry, SAM-e can help uplift the mood of depressed patients whether it is used alone or with other treatments.

Data shows that SAM-e can help activate mood-regulating neurotransmitters. It is produced in the liver from the adenosine triphosphate and the amino acid methionine. SAM-e exists in every cell of the body.

The nutrient triggers many important reactions, such as boosting levels of glutathione, the body’s premier antioxidant and detoxifying enzyme via a process called methylation. SAM-e also helps activate serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters that have a role in maintaining a stable mood, effective learning, normal appetite and restful sleep.

However, SAM-e doesn’t work in the same way as SSRIs.

SSRIs are intended to prolong the calming effects of neurotransmitters by blocking their reuptake. But as a methyl donor, SAM-e contributes part of its own chemical makeup to build neurotransmitters.

Data on the mood-boosting effects of SAM-e gained traction after scientists found out that patients with depression seemed to have significantly lower levels of SAM-e in their spinal fluid.

SAM-e May Boost Effects Of Pharmaceutical Drugs So Patients Can Reduce Dosage

During the review, the authors examined eight trials that included data from more than 1,000 participants with major depressive disorder. Results showed that SAM-e appeared to increase the effectiveness of SSRIs, leading to improved scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

SAM-e also seemed to make antidepressants work more quickly, shortening the waiting period that patients must endure before their mood improves. Additionally, SAM-e reduces the dosage needed, which means it can help potentially decrease the adverse effects of common medication for depression.

Whether used alone or in conjunction with other treatments, SAM-e had produced “encouraging and generally positive results,” concluded the researchers.

Dr. Jonathan Alpert, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, also praised the effectiveness of SAM-e.

Alpert said that the nutrient is very useful when used in conjunction with standard SSRI antidepressants in individuals who are not fully responding to the medication. In most cases, there are those who “are more willing to take dietary supplements (than prescription drugs),” concluded Alpert.

SAM-e’s Anti-Inflammatory Properties May Help Boost Joint Health

According to data, more than 32.5 million adults in America suffer from osteoarthritis. This degenerative joint condition causes debilitating symptoms like pain, swelling and loss of flexibility.

Many individuals use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) drugs like ibuprofen to relieve the discomfort caused by osteoarthritis, but NSAIDS are often linked to adverse effects such as:

- Diarrhea
- Greater risk of heart attack or stroke
- Liver damage
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps

SAM-e, which has a strong safety profile, has been shown in studies to work just as well as ibuprofen. Additionally, SAM-e can help relieve pain and improve mobility.

Experts say that SAM-e is a versatile compound that can also help relieve inflammation and promote the growth of new joint cartilage. . . .

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