Saffron trial finds no clear benefit for combined mood symptoms
In adults with subclinical symptoms, saffron did not significantly change the main depression, anxiety and fatigue outcome. A separate mental-health finding is difficult to interpret from the abstract.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Saffron did not show a statistically significant benefit for the combined symptom score or for depression, anxiety and fatigue considered individually. A separate self-rated mental-health result was described as improved, but the reported group means do not clearly support that interpretation. The primary null result does not prove that every possible effect is absent.
The secondary mental-health claim is difficult to reconcile with the group means as labelled. Without the full analysis, the direction and meaning of that result remain uncertain.
What researchers found
Combined depression, anxiety and fatigue score
Saffron extract versus placebo after 6 weeks; the primary endpoint averaged standardized questionnaire scores. The abstract gives no effect estimate or confidence interval.
The primary outcome
Researchers averaged standardized depression, anxiety and fatigue questionnaire scores for the main outcome. They also measured inflammatory markers and stress-system reactivity, neither of which showed a statistically significant response to saffron.
The secondary result needs clarification
The authors call for replication of the possible mental-health finding. That secondary result should be interpreted separately from the main symptom outcome, which did not show a statistically significant treatment effect.
The original publication
Effect of saffron extract supplementation on mood in healthy adults with subclinical symptoms of depression: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study.
Amadieu C, Leyrolle Q, Farneti M et al.
Am J Clin Nutr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41047129
- Record checked
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