Latest Study
Saffron is well known as a rare, brilliant yellow
culinary spice but is little known as a natural antidepressant. However, that
is a proven fact. Saffron works as well for depression as Prozac by acting on
serotonin metabolism.
Saffron appeared to be as effective as the
antidepressants fluoxetine and imipramine in reducing symptoms of
mild-to-moderate depression in adults, according to a meta-analysis published
in Human Psychopharmacology.
“Overall, saffron presents as a promising natural option
for the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression with initial clinical research
supporting its efficacy, at least in the short term,” researchers wrote.
Retailing at up to $11,000 per kilogram, saffron is the
most expensive spice in the world. Derived from the saffron flower Crocus
sativus, saffron has demonstrated anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
and antiplatelet effects, as well as a potential for preventing and treating
Alzheimer’s disease and macular degeneration, researchers reported.
To evaluate its effectiveness as an antidepressant,
researchers conducted a clinical review of six studies that included 230 adults
(118 women and 112 men) ages 18 to 60 with major depressive disorder of
moderate severity. Two of the trials compared the effectiveness of saffron with
placebo; the remaining four compared saffron with antidepressants.
In the pair of randomized, double-blind trials that
compared 30 mg per day of saffron with a placebo control, saffron demonstrated
large treatment effects. Researchers reported a Cohen’s d effect size of 1.51
and 1.76, which they noted was similar to a 1.62 overall effect size calculated
in another recent meta-analysis.
In the four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trials that compared 30 mg per day of saffron with two antidepressants, saffron
was similarly effective (researchers calculated a null effect size) in reducing
depressive symptoms compared with 20 mg per day of fluoxetine and 100 mg per
day of imipramine, according to the meta-analysis.
In all the studies examined, the 30-mg daily dose of
saffron—similar to levels of the spice used in some cuisines—was divided
equally among two doses. Saffron is generally considered safe in amounts up to
5 g daily, although investigators warned that people with blood coagulation
disorders or who take anticoagulants should exercise caution in using saffron
since research is inconsistent on its effect on blood coagulation and platelet
aggregation.
After a week of treatment, saffron produced statistically
significant improvements in depressive symptoms, researchers noted.
Improvements continued through the length of treatment. However, no study in
the meta-analysis lasted longer than eight weeks.
“Future research is required to determine optimal dosages
and duration of treatment,” researchers wrote, “and the long-term efficacy and
safety of this exotic spice.”
Other Studies
A number of studies indicate that the stigma of the plant
(the top of the plant where the pollen is, which is technically called the
‘saffron’) and petal of Crocus sativus plant both have similar mood benefits.
Animal studies show the compounds safranal and crocin in the crocus plant may
exert anti-depressant effects by keeping balanced levels of dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin (Hosseinzadeh et al., 2004).
Studies in humans show there is benefit to both anxiety
and depression. An 8-week double-blind randomized Iranian trial of 40 adult
depressed outpatients were randomly assigned to receive either a capsule of
petal of the Crocus plant at 15 mg in the morning and evening or Fluoxetine
(Prozac) at 10 mg in the morning and evening, for a 8 weeks. At the end of
trial, petal the Crocus was found to be as effective as the drug. Fluoxetine
(Prozac) had an 85% responder rate with 17 of 20 patients and crocus showed a
similar 75% (Basti et al., 2007). In another six week comparison to imipramine (an older style tricyclic
antidepressant drug), researchers foudn
significantly better results when patients were given a Hamilton Depression
scale, which is a well-known questionnaire used to assess mood (Akhondzadeh et
al., 2005).
The latest 2014 review of studies analyzed 14 studies
which used saffron as an anti-depressant. This review even found saffron to be
an agent effective to help Alzheimer’s, showing it more effective than the
placebo, and as effective as donepezil (Aricept), which is the main
conventional medication for this difficult-to-treat condition of aging. Some
studies also showed benefit to help with weight loss (by reducing the need to
snack) while others showed help with premenstrual syndrome (Moshiri, 2014). A separate
2013 review which used an even more stringent criteria for including studies
also found saffron supplementation effective to significantly reduce depression
symptoms compared to the placebo control (Hausenblas, 2013).
Buying Real Thing
When buying a saffron supplement for depression, quality
matters. It’s critical that you take a standardized extract of Crocus sativus
that comes from a reputable company. If it says only “saffron extract” on the
label, it’s almost certainly not the real thing. Due to the high costs, saffron
is one of the most common fraudulent foods. The USP Food Fraud Database lists
over 100 ingredients that have been used as fake saffron including marigold
flowers, turmeric, poppy flowers, and beet fibers and adulterants.
Other Uses
Saffron contains a dark orange, water soluble carotene
called crocin, which is responsible for much of saffron's golden color. Crocin
has been found to trigger apoptosis [programmed cell death] in a number of
different types of human cancer cells, leukemia, ovarian carcinoma, colon
adenocarcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Researchers in Mexico who have been
studying saffron extract have discovered that saffron and its active components
display an ability to inhibit human malignant cells. Not only does the spice
inhibit cells that have become cancerous, but it has no such effect on normal
cells and actually stimulates their formation and that of lymphocytes [immune
cells that help destroy cancer cells].
With different levels of the scientific validity, Saffron
is also used for asthma, cough, whooping cough (pertussis), and to loosen
phlegm (as an expectorant). It is also used for sleep problems (insomnia),
cancer, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), intestinal gas
(flatulence), depression, Alzheimer’s disease, fright, shock, spitting up blood
(hemoptysis), pain, heartburn, and dry skin.
Women use saffron for menstrual cramps and premenstrual
syndrome (PMS). Men use it to prevent early orgasm (premature ejaculation) and
infertility.
Saffron is also used for to increase interest in sex (as
an aphrodisiac) and to induce sweating. In low libido, saffron aids as a sexual
stimulant and can be consumed in a dose of a pinch in a glass of milk at bed
time.
Some people apply saffron directly to the scalp for
baldness (alopecia).
Warnings
Due to traditional usage as an abortifacient and
(infrequent) reports of irregular vaginal bleeding at higher doses (200-400mg)
of saffron, it may be prudent to avoid supplementation during pregnancy.
Chronic usage of saffron (over eight weeks continuous) should
be approached cautiously, as double the recommended dose may result in harm to
the body. Double the recommended dose is still a relatively small overall
amount (60mg) and it is possible usage of saffron as a spice could exceed this
Recommended dosage
For chronic supplementation, take 15mg of saffron, twice
a day. This is the advised upper limit for constant supplementation.
Preliminary evidence suggests that doubling this dose may have a toxic effect
after eight weeks of continuous usage. Acute, single doses of saffron, can be
as high as 200mg.
Saffron can be supplemented by taking water extracts of
the stigma (the red part of the plant, used as a spice) or by using the
dehydrated stigma itself. Some evidence suggests that the petals of saffron may
also be effective.
Saffron can be taken twice a day in a supplement form, or
at meals as a spice.
Doses above 1,200mg may cause nausea and vomiting.
Sources and
Additional Information:
http://food.ndtv.com/health/7-health-benefits-of-saffron-the-priceless-spice-1263525
