Introduction
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a compound made from two substances found in the body. The body uses it to make energy. SAMe has been used to ease pain in the joints and improve symptoms of depression. SAMe can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be injected into the muscle or bloodstream by a healthcare provider.
Dosages
400 milligrams 3 to 4 times daily
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Osteoarthritis —likely to ease pain and improve function of the hip and knee G1-G3
May Be Effective
- Depression —may ease symptoms C1-C6
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Cholestasis in pregnancy A1
- Chronic liver disease B1
- Fibromyalgia D1
- Mood and anxiety disorders E1
- Neuropsychiatric disorders F1
- Smoking cessation H1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take S-adenosylmethionine in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period. It is also not known whether it is safe to take by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse, such as:
- People taking antidepressants should talk to their doctors before taking S-adenosylmethionine. It may interact with the medicine.
References
REFA Cholestasis in Pregnancy
REFA1 Gurung V, Middleton P, et al. Interventions for treating cholestasis in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 24;(6):CD000493.
REFB Chronic Liver Disease
REFB1 Guo T, Chang L, et al. S-adenosyl-L-methionine for the treatment of chronic liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 16;10(3):e0122124.
REFC Depression
REFC1 Williams AL, Girard C, et al. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) as treatment for depression: a systematic review. Clin Invest Med. 2005;28(3):132-139.
REFC2 Freeman MP, Mischoulon D, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine for major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of patient characteristics, placebo-response rates, and treatment outcomes relative to standard antidepressants. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;71(6):682-688.
REFC3 Turner P, Kantaria R, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence base for add-on treatment for patients with major depressive disorder who have not responded to antidepressant treatment: a European perspective. J Psychopharmacol. 2014 Feb;28(2):85-98.
REFC4 Galizia I, Oldani L, et al. S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) for depression in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;10:CD011286.
REFC5 Sarris J, Murphy J, et al. Adjunctive Nutraceuticals for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Am J Psychiatry. 2016 Jun 1;173(6):575-587.
REFC6 Schefft C, Kilarski LL, et al. Efficacy of adding nutritional supplements in unipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017 Nov;27(11):1090-1109.
REFD Fibromyalgia
REFD1 De Silva V, El-Metwally A, et al. Evidence for the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines in the management of fibromyalgia: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2010 Jun;49(6):1063-1068.
REFE Mood and Anxiety Disorders
REFE1 Ravindran AV, da Silva TL. Complementary and alternative therapies as add-on to pharmacotherapy for mood and anxiety disorders: a systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2013 Sep 25;150(3):707-719.
REFF Neuropsychiatric Disorders
REFF1 Sharma A, Gerbarg P, et al. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Clinician-Oriented Review of Research. J Clin Psychiatry. 2017 Jun;78(6):e656-e667.
REFG Osteoarthritis
REFG1 Soeken KL, Lee WL, et al. Safety and efficacy of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) for osteoarthritis. J Fam Pract. 2002 May;51(5):425-430.
REFG2 Rutjes AW, Nüesch E, et al. S-Adenosylmethionine for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(4):CD007321.
REFG3 De Silva V, El-Metwally A, et al. Evidence for the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines in the management of osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011 May;50(5):911-920.
REFH Smoking Cessation
REFH1 Hughes JR, Stead LF, et al. Antidepressants for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Jan 8;(1):CD000031.