Unified Health
Rhodiola extract may be clinically effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression
Spring 2009, Vol 5, Issue 15

Investigators in this featured study sought to research potentially therapeutic effects of a well-known adaptogenic botanical, Rhodiola rosea L in the treatment of depression. Researchers acknowledge Rhodiola's capacity to induce non-specific resistance to a number of health stressors. In this phase III clinical trial they assessed the efficacy of a standardized extract SHR-5 of Rhodiola in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate depression. While no consensus has been reached, a conservative estimate of adults suffering from depression is 10% or greater. Mild to moderate depression is characterized by insomnia, low energy, mood disturbances and many other somatic symptoms. In previous research, Rhodiola was observed to be a clinically effective adjunct when administered with trycyclic anti-depressant medications, demonstrating a significant reduction in medication side effects and a positive influence on symptoms in subjects with psychogenic depression. In this double-blind trial, researchers sought to assess the clinical efficacy of Rhodiola as a mono-therapy for mild to moderate depression as compared to placebo.

Participants in this study were men and women, ranging in age from 18-70 years, all diagnosed with mild to moderate depression based on DSM-IV criteria. Subjects were diagnosed with clinically significant depression at a medical center or Department of Neurology of Armenian State Medical University in Yerevan, Armenia. A number of exclusion criteria were followed, including chronic illnesses (due to potential drug interactions with the SHR-5 extract), pregnancy, progressive brain disorders and severe depression and/or suicide risk. Subjects were randomized into one of three groups. Over a six-week period, group A (31 patients) took 340 mg/day of the standardized Rhodiola extract, group B (29 patients) took 680 mg/day, and group C (29 patients) took placebo tablets. The clinical efficacy of the treatment was based on the symptom scores of two tests: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) administered at baseline and 42 days.

Of all subjects, only two participants dropped out of the study for non-medical reasons. The remainder completed the study with no side-effects reported. No statistically different data was observed based on gender or other demographic factors. Notably, both group A and group B showed a statistically significant (P<0.0001) reduction in overall depression and related symptoms with a mean total HAMD score decline from 24.52 to 15.97 in group A and 23.79 to 16.79 in group B. Group C did not improve clinically with a pre-trial HAMD score of 24.17 and post trial score of 23.41 (P=0.3306). The only measurable symptom unaffected by the original trial was ‘self-esteem’; however, when the dosage was increased to 1,340 mg/day (4 tablets) self-esteem improved significantly with no side effects noted. This is the first clinical trial to demonstrate anti-depressant activity of Rhodiola extract in patients with mild to moderate depression.

Study: Darbinyan, V., et al, Nord J Psychiatry, Vol 61: NO 5, (2007)




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