title: Role of betaine in improving the antidepressant effect of S-adenosyl-methionine in patients with mild-to-moderate depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is a common add-on treatment used to counteract depressive symptoms in subjects with mild-to-moderate depression, who are low responders to other antidepressant drugs. However, there is some concern about the possible impact of SAMe therapy on homocysteine levels. Betaine is known both to counteract high level of homocysteine in plasma and to increase liquor and plasma levels of SAMe, thus potentiating its effect.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role played by betaine, administered along with SAMe, in potentiating the antidepressive role played by SAMe administered as such.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study enrolled 46 subjects with a diagnosis of mild-to-moderate depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory Scale II. All the subjects had a suboptimal control of their symptoms. After randomization, they were treated with adjunctive treatment with either Samyr(®) (enteric-coated SAMe) or DDM Metile(®) (enteric-coated SAMe plus betaine) for 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatments acted similarly in improving symptoms such as anxiety, psychomotor agitation, feelings of helplessness and worthlessness, physical efficiency, and somatization, but treatment with DDM Metile(®) determined better statistically significant results following a 90-day therapy. Tolerability and compliance were overlapping in both the treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of SAMe plus betaine seemed to demonstrate more effectiveness than SAMe alone when administered as an add-on therapy to subjects, affected by mild-to-moderate depression, who were low responders to conventional antidepressants.
authors: Scientific Department, Velleja Research, Milan, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Di Pierro
authors: ASL TO1, Turin, Italy.
authors: Rossana
authors: R
authors: Orsi
authors: Neurosurgery Department, ASL BA, Di Venere Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Settembre
keywords: Betaine; DDM Metile®; SAMe; Samyr®; methyl donor; mild-to-moderate depression
references: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2001 Jul-Sep;15(3):162-5
references: 11522934
references: J Affect Disord. 2014 Aug;164:76-81
references: 24856557
references: J Nutr. 2005 Mar;135(3):519-24
references: 15735087
references: Curr Drug Metab. 2005 Feb;6(1):15-22
references: 15720203
references: Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2003 Aug;(64):1-3
references: 12899148
references: Drugs Today (Barc). 2013 Dec;49(12 ):791-8
references: 24524097
references: J Postgrad Med. 2002 Jul-Sep;48(3):206-8
references: 12432198
references: Indian J Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;56(1):46-53
references: 24574558
references: Rheumatol Rehabil. 1976 Aug;15(3):185-7
references: 968347
references: J Nutr. 2003 Dec;133(12):4135-8
references: 14652361
references: J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1):34-8
references: 16365055
references: J Clin Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;73(6):843-8
references: 22687580
references: Atherosclerosis. 2014 Jul;235(1):94-101
references: 24819748
references: Neuropsychobiology. 2013;68(4):193-6
references: 24193367
references: Psychopathology. 1998;31(3):160-8
references: 9636945
references: J Clin Psychiatry. 2014 Apr;75(4):370-6
references: 24500245
references: Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2007 Aug-Sep;41(4):339-45
references: 17704338
references: J Affect Disord. 2012 Feb;136(3):1174-8
references: 21911258
references: Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2014 Feb;82(2):78-83
references: 24519190