Saffron, the precious spice from Crocus sativus stigmas, has hinted at mood-lifting powers in past studies but small groups and short timelines left questions unanswered.
In this robust 12-week trial the largest of its kind 202 adults aged 18–70 with mild depressive symptoms took 28 mg daily of Affron saffron extract or a placebo, in a randomized, double-blind setup. Researchers tracked mood via the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), sleep quality, well-being, and daily self-reports.
Saffron shone on the main measure: depression scores dropped more (by 2.92 points on average; Cohen’s d = 0.39) than placebo, with 72% of saffron users hitting a clinically meaningful improvement (≥7-point drop) versus 54% on placebo (P=0.010). Secondary mood and anxiety metrics showed no edge, but exploratory dives revealed better sleep for those with worse baseline issues (β: –2.72 points; Cohen’s d = 0.44). No serious side effects popped up, and placebo effects were notably strong.
This trial bolsters saffron as a safe, natural ally for subclinical depression over three months though bigger placebo responses mean future studies should tread carefully
Source : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022316625003062
