Research · Meta-analysis
Effect of saffron supplementation on symptoms of depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis
What it found
Saffron showed a large effect on anxiety symptoms versus placebo (Hedges g ≈ 0.95); trials are mostly small, short, and geographically concentrated.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Year
- 2019
- Population
- adults with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms (23 RCTs)
- Intervention
- oral saffron vs placebo or antidepressant
- Outcome
- standardized anxiety and depression symptom scores
- Journal
- Nutrition Reviews
Citation last checked 2026-06-21.