ArticleFrontiers in nutrition2020
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.
Article in Frontiers in nutrition, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Therapeutic Impact of Plant-Based and Nutritional Supplements on Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality among Adults and Elderly: A Systematic Review of the Literature.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Complementary medicine in psychology practice: an analysis of Australian psychology guidelines and a comparison with other psychology associations from English speaking countries.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of aJournal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2025Trial
- Daily supplementation with lemon verbena extract decreases subjective energy and parental reports of hyperactivity in children displaying sub-clinical attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-type behaviours: A randomised controlled trial.Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2025Trial
- Oral supplementation with crocin (a constituent of saffron) in subjects with cigarette smoking: a clinical trial.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2024Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Acute Effect of a Saffron Extract (Safr'InsideNutrients · 2023Trial
- The effect of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) herbal tea on happiness in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Trial
- The chronic effects of a combination of herbal extracts (EuphytoseJournal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2022Trial
- An examination into the mental and physical effects of a saffron extract (affron®) in recreationally-active adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2022Trial
- Article
- Adverse Events of Saffron (Health science reports · 2026Article
- Saffron Alters Microbial Amino Acid Metabolism and Neurotransmitter Production in a Defined Gut Consortium.Food science & nutrition · 2026Article
- Article
- Article
- Protective Effects of Safranal Against Spike Protein-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inflammation in Peripheral and Central Immune Cells.Current developments in nutrition · 2026Article
- Effect of a saffron extract on sleep quality in adults with moderate insomnia: A decentralized, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Sleep medicine: X · 2025Article
- Plant extracts and omega-3 supplementation modulate hippocampal oxylipin profile in response to LPS-induced neuroinflammation.Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] · 2024Article
- Exploring the Potential of Saffron as a Therapeutic Agent in Depression Treatment: A Comparative Review.The Yale journal of biology and medicine · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
17 authors at 8 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
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.
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Registered trials
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