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
Kell G, et al
Published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Methodology
Three-arm double-blind, parallel, randomised, placebo-controlled trial over 4 weeks; standardised Crocus sativus stigma extract at 28 mg/day or 22 mg/day versus placebo; mood measured at baseline and end by POMS (primary), PANAS and DASS-21, with sleep by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
Key Findings
128 healthy adults self-reporting low mood but without diagnosed depression were randomised to a standardised saffron stigma extract at 28 mg/day, 22 mg/day, or placebo for 4 weeks. The 28 mg/day dose significantly reduced negative mood and stress and anxiety symptoms, with a large difference from placebo on the POMS Total Mood Disturbance scale (p < 0.001, d = -1.10). The 22 mg/day dose showed no treatment effect. No side effects were reported.
Conclusions
affron increased mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects, offering a natural alternative to standard treatments.
Limitations
All screening and outcome measures were self-reported over only 4 weeks in people without diagnosed depression, and the absence of any effect at 22 mg but a very large effect at 28 mg is hard to explain; the extract manufacturer was involved in the study.
Supplements Studied
affron increased mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects, offering a natural alternative to standard treatments.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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