St. John's wort
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Flawed endpoints, study design, analysis by Vanderbilt researchers in St. John's wort/depression trial charged by researchers, consultants, CRN reps in letters to the editor appearing in July 4 Journal of the American Medical Association. Trial by Richard Shelton, MD, et al., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which found botanical to have no advantage over placebo for major depression, was published in April 18 JAMA (1"The Tan Sheet" April 23, p. 10). Shelton et al. defend their study protocol, saying "the simple placebo-controlled trial is a widely accepted design," and note their article conceded possible efficacy of herbal in treating mild-to-moderate depression