Research · Randomized controlled trial
affron, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
What it found
By youth self-report, saffron improved overall internalising symptoms, separation anxiety, and social phobia (total scores fell ~33% vs ~17% on placebo); parent reports corroborated only inconsistently.
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Year
- 2018
- Sample size
- 80
- Population
- youth aged 12–16 with mild-to-moderate anxiety or depressive symptoms (68 completed)
- Intervention
- saffron extract (affron) 14 mg twice daily vs placebo for 8 weeks
- Outcome
- self- and parent-reported internalising (anxiety/depression) symptoms
- Journal
- Journal of Affective Disorders
Citation last checked 2026-06-21.