SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), is one of those serendipitous discoveries that keep scientists encouraged as they plow through the mysteries of the human body. This discovery happened in Italy during the 1970s. Doctors gave SAM-e to patients suffering from schizophrenia. The schizophrenia didn't improve, but the symptoms of depression did. SAM-e became a prescription drug in Europe, after that, and has been available in the United States as an over-the-counter drug since 1996.

So what is SAM-e? SAM-e is another naturally occurring substance in your body. It's made from an amino acid, but as you age, your body produces less of it. Researchers were able to make a synthetic version that seemed to work well as a supplement. Next, U.S. researchers wanted to see for themselves just how good SAM-e was.

Study Says …

A study of SAM-e's beneficial effects in treating major depression was carried out at the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

What researchers found was exciting. When the dietary supplement SAM-e was added to the patients' medication protocol, half of the patients with major depression improved, and 43 percent went into remission. They learned that SAM-e boosts the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, and that has a positive effect on depression, as reported by WebMD. That's the function that researchers will continue to study. The NIH is supporting further research into the therapeutic effects of SAM-e.

A Warning

Even though SAM-e is available at health food stores and other places where dietary supplements are sold, you still need to follow the necessary precautions regarding its use. If you have bipolar disorder or Parkinson's Disease, you should not take SAM-e. If you have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease, check with your physician before making SAM-e part of your medical regimen.