Depression is a serious psychiatric condition that can negatively impact your physical and emotional health. While a number of factors are thought to contribute to depression, the exact causes are not yet known. However, scientists believe that deficits in certain nutrients, such as methionine, can have a detrimental effect on the production of neurotransmitters thought to play a role in depression. Methionine supplementation may have a positive impact on depressive symptoms. Always consult your doctor before using any dietary supplements.
About Methionine
Methionine is an essential amino acid, meaning that it is required for certain biological processes, but your body cannot manufacture it. You must obtain essential amino acids from dietary sources. Methionine is found in foods such as sesame seeds, nuts and grains and is also available as a dietary supplement. It plays a role in the production of the chemical S-adenosyl methionine, also known as SAMe. SAMe helps to manufacture serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, which are important mood-regulating neurotransmitters. A lack of methionine may interfere with the production of these neurotransmitters, resulting in mood disturbances and depressive symptoms.
Depression and SAMe
Depressive symptoms can cause significant clinical impairment to your ability to function and decrease your feelings of well-being. Typically, doctors recommend psychotherapy and antidepressant medication to treat depression. However, some patients experience serious negative side effects or do not respond to antidepressants, prompting research into new, alternative forms of treatment. Both methionine and SAMe appear to have a beneficial effect on depressive symptoms, according to Eric Braverman, M.D., in his book, "The Healing Nutrients Within." However, most clinical studies have focused on the benefits of SAMe for depression.
Clinical Evidence
In his book, Dr. Braverman states that methionine supplements actually appear to increase brain levels of SAMe more effectively than SAMe supplementation. However, most of the available clinical studies have evaluated the effectiveness of SAMe, not methionine alone. A clinical review published in the November 2002 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" states that some clinical trials have found SAMe supplementation to be more effective than conventional tricyclic antidepressant medications and appears to be well-tolerated, with a minimum of negative side effects. Another review, published in the December 2003 issue of the journal "Current Psychiatry Reports" states that SAMe may be a useful treatment for patients who do not respond well to traditional antidepressant medications. While it appears that SAMe may have a beneficial effect on depression, clinical studies evaluating the benefits of methionine are needed.
Considerations
While supplements like methionine and SAMe may have a beneficial effect on depression, you should not use dietary supplements to self-treat your symptoms. If you think you are depressed, consult your doctor. Depression can become worse if left untreated. Inform your doctor if you choose to use any dietary supplements, especially if you are currently taking any antidepressant medications.
References
- "The Healing Nutrients Within"; Eric Braverman, M.D., et al; 2003
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Role of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in the Treatment of Depression: A Review of the Evidence; D. Mischoulon and M. Fava; November 2002
- "Current Psychiatry Reports"; S-adenosyl-methionine in Depression: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature; G.I. Papakostas, et al; December 2003
