Oral administration of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Lactobacillus Plantarum HEAL9 improves the mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

In this 2020 double-blind study, Saccarello et al. investigated the effect of SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) 200 mg combined with Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) HEAL9 consumption for 6 weeks on symptomatology of mild-to-moderate depression. Ninety patients were randomized to either the probiotic group (SAMe plus L. plantarum HEAL9, n = 46) or placebo (n = 44) group. The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Z-SDS), which indicates depression symptom severity, was reduced at the 6-week treatment mark in the probiotic combination group, compared to placebo. As well as the depression scale, treatment with probiotics was shown to significantly reduce cognitive and anxiety subdomains, and anxiety (in the questionnaire) at the 2-week stage, relative to the placebo condition. To conclude, the administration of SAMe and L. plantarum HEAL9 by adults with subthreshold or mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms showed clinical effects that were independent of symptom severity in 2 weeks. Aspects of depression, anxiety, and cognition were enhanced while the safety of these probiotics was also confirmed (no treatment-related adverse events). [NPID: probiotics, gut-brain axis, gut microbiota, gut bacteria, microbiota, gut microbiome, depression, anxiety, cognition]

Year: 2020

Reference: Saccarello, A., Montarsolo, P., Massardo, I., Picciotto, R., Pedemonte, A., Castagnaro, R., Brasesco, P. C., Guida, V., Picco, P., Fioravanti, P., Montisci, R., Schiavetti, I., & Vanelli, A. (2020). Oral Administration of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Lactobacillus Plantarum HEAL9 Improves the Mild-To-Moderate Symptoms of Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 22(4), 19m02578. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.19m02578