| Effect | Decrease |
| Values | Mean and SD, 95% CI. Placebo: before 30.20 ± 28.19 (18.22–44.99), after 32.00 ± 14.75 (27.85–40.90). Saffron: before 29.94 ± 17.40 (22.24–36.20), after 24.06 ± 12.66 (20.24–30.63). |
| Trial Design | Randomized trial |
| Trial Length | 1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects | 66 |
| Sex | Female |
| Age Range | 18-29, 30-44, 45-64, 65+ |
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 66 women with rheumatoid arthritis took 100 mg of saffron or placebo for 12 weeks.
The primary outcomes were inflammatory markers and disease activity, but the study wasn't specifically powered for any particular outcome. There was a greater reduction in pain, number of swollen joints, tender joints, and overall disease activity score, while the difference for morning stiffness wasn't statistically significant overall. There was a greater improvement in Physician Global Assessment. There weren't and statistically significant differences in the change in inflammatory/oxidative markers between groups, but the trend was a reduction for TNF, IFN-y, hs-CRP, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate; malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity weren't meaningfully different.
The trial was preregistered: IRCT201707139472N14
