Studies related to Stress and Saffron

Affron ® A Novel Saffron Extract (Crocus Sativus L.) Improves Mood In Healthy Adults Over 4 Weeks In A Double-blind, Parallel, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 128 healthy participants who self-reported low mood but didn't have diagnosed depression took 28 mg of saffron extract, 22 mg or placebo daily for 4 weeks. The saffron extract was standardized to >3.5% Lepticrosalides.

Mood, as measured by POMS, was the primary outcome, and there was a greater improvement in the 28 mg group than 22, and a greater improvement for 22 mg than placebo for all subscales. The same was the case for positive and negative affect (PANAS) though only negative affect was statistically significant. On the DASS21, the 28 mg group also saw the greatest effect, whereas the 22 mg group saw an improvement, but it wasn't statistically significantly different from placebo. There wasn't a significant effect of saffron on sleep quality.

The trial was preregistered: ACTRN12614001053617

The authors gratefully acknowledge Pharmactive Biotech Products SL Company for funding the project and supplying affron®, LIPA Pharmaceuticals for
the preparation of the tablets, and the RDC Clinical for their management of the clinical trial."