EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF SAMEUP IN SUBJECTS WITH DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS: A RANDOMIZED STUDY

Depression is a common condition of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, tendencies, feelings, and sense of well-being.

Several literature findings suggest that an oral combination of the two food supplements SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) and probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum might be favourable in relieving some of symptoms of depression, particularly in the mild to moderate forms of this condition. This double blind placebo controlled clinical study aims to evaluate this hypothesis. In particular, the primary objective is to assess, versus placebo, the efficacy of SAMEUp in improving the overall symptomology of depression after 6 weeks of treatment. Subjects with mild to moderate depression were identified according to ICD-10 diagnostic criteria and confirmed by mean of Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale.

SAMEUp, the investigational food supplement, is an oral formulation (tablet) containing S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) 200 mg and Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 1x109 CFU, already notified to the Ministry of Health as food supplement.

Placebo is an oral formulation of inert tablet. Placebo and SAMEUp are indistinguishable.

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent, personally signed and dated by the subject.
• Males and females, aging 18-60 years old (limits included).
• Diagnosis of mild to moderate recurrent depressive disorder according to the ICD-10 / F33 criteria (World Health Organization, 2004).
• Subject who, having completed the Z-SDS depression questionnaire, has a raw score between 41 and 55 (including limits).
• Subject able to comprehend the full nature and purpose of the study, available to cooperate with the Investigator and to comply with the requirements of the entire study.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breast-feeding woman.
• Subject with one or more psychiatric disturbances, such as: alcoholism, substance abuse or dependency disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other personality disorder.
• Subject with known or potential hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the study product.
• Subject in treatment with psycholeptic drug, such as: antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives.
• Subject who has taken during the 2 weeks prior to inclusion, who is currently taking or plans to take other orally administered food supplements except the study product. Only multivitamins, salts and trace elements are accepted