Effects of Saffron Extract Supplementation on Mood, Well-Being, and Response to a Psychosocial Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Clinical Trial
What this study found
Chronic saffron extract significantly reduced depressive mood on the POMS Depression subscale and improved social relationships by day 56. Urinary crocetin increased with saffron and correlated with greater reductions in POMS Depression score (rho = −0.50, p = 0.008). Acute saffron intake attenuated the stressor-induced decline in heart rate variability (RMSSD) during the laboratory stressor, indicating enhanced autonomic resilience. No significant effects were observed on the total mood disturbance (POMS-TMD) or on anxiety measures (STAI-State, HADS). Overall, saffron extract shows promise…
- Study & population
- Double-blind, randomized, parallel-group trial with 56 healthy adults (18–54 years; both sexes) with self-reported subclinical mood symptoms, assigned to saffron extract or placebo for 8 weeks.
- Intervention
- 30 mg saffron extract daily for 8 weeks; two capsules daily (15 mg extract per capsule), taken in the morning and evening with meals.
- Key limitation
- Small, selective sample (n=56) and per-protocol analysis; planned sample size (n=72) not reached, limiting power and generalizability; results pertain to healthy adults with subclinical mood symptoms and may not extend to clinical mood disorders; laboratory stressor may not reflect real-world stress; mid-study…
View source
Open PDFOriginal abstract
Anxiety, stress, and low mood are closely related and may contribute to depressive symptoms. Among non-pharmacological solutions to improve subclinical mood symptoms and resilience to stress, natural products such as saffron—identified as promising following preliminary beneficial effects in major depressive disorder—represent a relevant strategy. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of 8 weeks' supplementation with 30 mg standardized saffron extract on emotional well-being in healthy adults with subclinical feelings of low mood and anxiety and/or stress and evaluate the acute effect of saffron in response to a lab-based psychosocial stressor. The study adopted a double-blind, randomized, parallel groups design in which 56 healthy male and female individuals (18–54 years) received either a saffron extract or a placebo for 8 weeks. Chronic effects of saffron on subjective anxiety, stress, and depressive feelings were assessed using a questionnaire battery [including Profile of Mood State-2, (POMS)] and acute effects in response to a lab-based psychosocial stressor were measured through psychological and physiological parameters. Urinary crocetin levels were quantified. Participants who received the saffron extract reported reduced depression scores and improved social relationships at the end of the study. Urinary crocetin levels increased significantly with saffron supplementation and were correlated with change in depression scores. The typical stress-induced decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) during exposure to the stressor was attenuated following acute saffron intake. Saffron extract appears to improve subclinical depressive symptoms in healthy individuals and may contribute to increased resilience against the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Clinical trials number: NCT03639831.