These data indicate that SAMe is more effective than placebo for relief of symptoms of depression, pain of osteoarthritis, and pruritus in cholestasis of pregnancy, and in intrahepatic cholestasis. SAMe is more effective than placebo in reducing bilirubin for cholestasis of pregnancy and serum bilirubin for intrahepatic cholestasis. Treatment with SAMe was equivalent to standard therapy for depression and osteoarthritis but not for liver disease.
These results justify additional randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of SAMe for treatment of depression, osteoarthritis, and cholestasis (related to pregnancy and associated with other liver diseases).