Saffron Extract Reduces Stress and Improves Low Mood in Healthy Individuals

by | Jun 21, 2021 | 2021, Botanicals, Brain Health, Depression, Stress

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Supplementing with saffron extract for 8 weeks was proven to improve low mood while boosting quality of life and social functioning in the study participants.

saffronOne of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide, depression affects over 300 million people each year 1, impacting even more at the subclinical level 2. Saffron, a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus and known for its abundance of bioactive compounds like crocin, crocetin, and safranal 3, has been used to treat inflammatory conditions, as well as mood symptoms like depression 4. Compelling evidence pooled over a number of clinical trials suggests that saffron (at a dose of 30 mg/day) performs at a level comparable to that of major antidepressant medications like fluoxetine and imipramine in patients with major depressive disorder 5. Although the mechanisms involved in saffron’s mood-enhancing capabilities are still under study, researchers speculate that saffron may operate using similar neurotransmitter systems as traditional pharmacological treatments 6. It has also been hypothesized that saffron may be involved in the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, based on its ability to lower plasma corticosterone levels in response to stress 7. Still, little is known about whether saffron is effective at regulating stress responses in individuals with more subclinical levels of depression. To this end, a recent study 8 in Frontiers in Nutrition (2021) examined the effects of saffron supplementation in subjects with subclinical symptoms of depression and anxiety.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out with a total of 56 participants (aged 18-54 years) who reported subclinical symptoms of low mood and anxiety and/or stress. Subjects were randomized to receive 30 mg of standardized saffron extract or matching placebo once daily for 8 weeks. They also completed a battery of questionnaires designed to assess mood and well-being (Profile of Mood State-2, POMS-2; State Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI; World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, WHOQOL). Prior to and immediately following completion of the observed multitasking stressor (OMS) test, a multitasking cognitive test combined with social evaluation, participants were administered the STAI and a visual analog scale (VAS) measuring stress and anxiety levels. Physiological markers of stress were also analyzed based on salivary α amylase levels, galvanic skin response (GSR), and heart rate (HR). Urinary concentrations of crocetin (constituent of saffron) were quantified as well.

Compared to placebo, subjects in the saffron group were shown to experience a greater decrease in depressed mood from baseline to the end of the study, based on the POMS Depression Subscale [F(1, 51.58) = 4.18, p = 0.05]. By Week 8, participants who were treated with saffron also demonstrated better social relationship scores on the WHOQOL, compared to placebo (p = 0.007). Supplementation with saffron was associated with increased levels of urinary crocetin (0.46 +/- 0.42 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.05 ng/mg creatinine for saffron group and placebo, respectively; p < 0.0001), which was correlated to changes in POMS depression score (Spearman ρ = -0.50, p = 0.008). While subjects in the placebo group also experienced a decrease in HR variability (HRV) indices in response to the OMS protocol, this effect was attenuated in patients who received saffron [F(1, 44.1) = 9.92, p = 0.003].

Findings suggest that saffron extract offers significant benefits for emotional wellbeing in individuals experiencing low mood and/or acute stress. Supplementation for 8 weeks was proven to improve low mood while boosting quality of life and social functioning. Treatment with saffron also attenuated stress-induced reduction in HRV during exposure to a psychosocial stressor. Although the exact mechanisms involved in saffron’s mood-regulating effects warrant further study, it is clear that this spice possesses significant anti-depressant and anti-anxiolytic benefits that are evident at the subclinical level, based on both psychological and physiological parameters. Notable limitations of the present study pertain to its relatively small sample size and its limited ecological validity, considering the nature of the OMS protocol. Saffron’s efficacy in relation to chronic anxiety should also be further investigated in the future.

Source: Jackson PA, Forster J, Khan J, et al. Effects of saffron extract supplementation on mood, wellbeing, and response to a psychosocial stressor in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, parallel group clinical trial. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2021; 7: 606124. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.606124.

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted June 21, 2021.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

References:

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