Saffron: Everything You Need to Know
Medically reviewed by Allison Herries, RDN
Saffron comes from the Crocus sativus (C. sativus) plant.
C. sativus is believed to be native to the Mediterranean, Spain, France, Italy, as well as Iran. It also grows in India.
Saffron is commonly used as a spice for flavoring and coloring agent in foods.
Saffron contains several compounds that make it a medicinally important substance.
This article discusses what you should know about saffron—its health claims, side effects, and interactions.
Supplement Facts
Active Ingredient(s): Picrocrocin, safranal, crocin, 3,8-dihydroxy-1-methylanthroquinone-2-carboxylic
Alternate Names(s): Saffron, Crocus sativus, C. sativus
Legal Status: Spice, food, food additive
Suggested Dose: May vary based on dosage form and medical condition
Safety Considerations: Possible side effects, interactions, and special considerations for children, pregnancy, and breastfeeding
Uses of Saffron
Explainer
Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian, pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
While more extensive research is necessary regarding effectiveness, people use saffron to treat various health conditions.
Saffron research is most robust for the following conditions:
Depression
Anxiety
Eye health support
Fasil Tiru / Getty Images
Saffron flowersDepression
In clinical studies, saffron relieved depressive symptoms better than placebo (a substance with no medicine).
In fact, saffron seemed to relieve depressive symptoms in a similar way as prescription antidepressants, such as Prozac (fluoxetine) and Celexa (citalopram).
And saffron was effective for depression by itself or in combination with antidepressants.
These results are positive. However, further extensive research with higher-quality, larger, and longer-term studies is necessary to better assess saffron's effects and safety.
Future studies should also include a more diverse group of participants.
Anxiety
In clinical studies, saffron was more effective at relieving anxiety symptoms when compared to placebo.
Although promising, additional high-quality research with longer-term studies is still needed.
Eye Health Support
In clinical studies, saffron was used in people with the following eye conditions:
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Open-angle glaucoma
In general, these eye conditions are major causes of blindness throughout the world.
And the results showed saffron to be beneficial in this review article.
However, further extensive high-quality research with larger and longer-term studies is still necessary to better understand saffron's effects.
What Are the Side Effects of Saffron?
Like many medications and natural products, side effects are possible with saffron.
Common Side Effects
The FDA placed saffron on its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list when used in food as:
A flavoring
A coloring agent
There are only a small number of studies regarding saffron's safety.
However, common side effects may include:
Anxiety
Appetite changes, which may lead to weight loss
Drowsiness or sleepiness
Severe Side Effects
Possible serious side effects may include the following:
Severe allergic reaction: A severe allergic reaction is a serious side effect possible with any medication or natural product. If you're having a severe allergic reaction, symptoms may include breathing difficulties, itchiness, and rash.
Abnormal bleeding: Saffron might increase the risk of abnormal uterine bleeding.
Yellow-colored skin and eyes: The dye from saffron might accumulate (hold on or build up) in your skin and eyes, mimicking jaundice symptoms.
If you're having a severe allergic reaction or if any of your symptoms feel life-threatening, call 911 and get medical help right away.
Precautions
A healthcare provider may advise against saffron if any of the following applies to you:
Severe allergic reaction: Avoid saffron if you have a known allergy to it or its components (ingredients or parts). If you're unsure, ask a pharmacist or healthcare provider for a complete list of the ingredients.
Pregnancy: High doses of saffron may have effects on the uterus, increasing the risk of spontaneous abortions (miscarriages). Before using saffron, contact a healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and risks.
Breastfeeding: There are a few saffron-related studies that included breastfeeding parents and people with postpartum depression. But more clinical trials are necessary to better understand the effects and safety of saffron on these parents and nursing infants. Before using saffron, discuss its benefits and risks with a healthcare provider.
Adults over 65: Older adults likely participated in clinical trials that studied the effects of saffron on age-related macular degeneration. AMD is a vision-threatening eye condition that tends to affect older adults. But higher-quality, larger, and longer-term clinical trials are still needed. Moreover, some older adults may have a higher likelihood of medication side effects. For this reason, discuss your saffron use with your healthcare provider.
Children: Some teenagers participated in clinical trials that evaluated the effects of saffron on depressive and anxiety symptoms. But further extensive research with high-quality studies is still necessary. Furthermore, most saffron and C. sativus product labels are likely to target adults—not children. Talk with a healthcare provider if you're considering saffron for your child.
Kidney problems: Saffron might be linked to some abnormal kidney-related labs. If you're experiencing worsening kidney function, symptoms may include bloody or foamy urine, puffy eyes that don't go away, and swollen ankles or feet.
Bleeding conditions: Saffron might increase your risk of bleeding. If you have a bleeding condition, like von Willebrand disease, healthcare providers may want you to avoid saffron.
Dosage: How Much Saffron Should I Take?
Explainer
Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs.
While there are some studies on saffron in humans, high-quality clinical trials are still necessary. For this reason, there are no guidelines on the appropriate dosage to use saffron for any condition.
Clinical trials on depressive and anxiety symptoms used around 30 milligrams (mg) of saffron daily.
As for AMD, doses in studies ranged from 20 mg to 50 mg per day. There was also a dosage of 15 mg twice daily for AMD.
For open-angle glaucoma, the saffron dosage was 30 mg daily.
And for diabetic macular edema (DME), the daily dosage was 5 mg or 15 mg of crocin. Crocin is a substance in saffron.
The specific dose may vary based on the dosage form and medical condition. If you use saffron, follow a healthcare provider's recommendations or label instructions.
Explainer
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Saffron?
More information about the safety, toxicity, and overdoses of saffron in humans is needed.
But in general, there are reports of toxicity at doses above 5 grams (g) per day.
If you're having mild toxicity from saffron, symptoms may include:
If you're experiencing severe toxicity from saffron, symptoms may include:
Numbness or tingling of hands and feet
Yellow-colored skin and eyes due to a buildup of dye from saffron
If you suspect you're experiencing life-threatening side effects, seek immediate medical attention.
Interactions
There is limited information about possible medication interactions with saffron.
Possible interactions are mainly based on the potential uses or side effects of saffron:
Blood thinners: Saffron may increase your chance of bleeding. This may have additive effects with blood thinners, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding side effects. Jantoven (warfarin) is an example of a blood thinner.
Mood medications: Saffron may have effects on your mood. A healthcare provider may want to closely monitor you and make any necessary medication adjustments.
Sleep-inducing medications: Saffron might make you drowsy and sleepy. This may have additive effects with other sleep-inducing medications, such as Ambien (zolpidem).
It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.
How to Store Saffron
Storage instructions may vary for different products. Carefully read the directions and packaging label on the container.
The optimal storage condition for most medicines and supplements is a cool and dry place. You should also keep your medications tightly closed and out of the sight and reach of children and pets, ideally locked in a cabinet or closet.
Discard after one year or as indicated on the packaging. Avoid putting unused and expired products down the drain or in the toilet. Visit the FDA website to know learn and how to discard all unused and expired medications.
You can also find disposal boxes in your area.
Ask a pharmacist or healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to dispose of your medications or natural products.
If you plan to travel with saffron, become familiar with your final destination's regulations. The U.S. Embassy & Consulates might be a helpful resource.
Ask a healthcare provider how to travel with your medications or natural products, if necessary.
Similar Supplements
Saffron has potential uses in relieving depressive symptoms, lessening anxiety symptoms, and supporting eye health. So, other potentially similar supplements may include:
AREDS2 supplements: AREDS2 supplements may slow the worsening of a vision-threatening eye condition called age-related macular degeneration.
Kava: Kava might moderately relieve some anxiety symptoms, but it may increase your risk of liver damage.
S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe): There is some evidence that SAMe might relieve some depressive symptoms, but this isn't overwhelmingly conclusive. And long-term safety data is still necessary.
Saint-John's-wort: Saint-John's-wort isn't consistently effective at relieving depressive symptoms. It also interacts with several prescriptions.
Don't combine multiple natural products until you first talk with a healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Checking in can help you avoid possible interactions and side effects and ensure you're giving these supplements a fair trial at appropriate doses.
Sources of Saffron & What To Look For
There are a few different sources of saffron.
Food Sources of Saffron
Saffron comes from Crocus sativus (C. sativus), which is naturally available as a plant.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) generally categorizes saffron or C. sativus as spice in foods.
The FDA also placed saffron on its GRAS list when used as a flavoring or coloring agent.
Saffron Supplements
Saffron is likely commonly available in capsule form. Other dosage forms of saffron may also include:
Tablets
Gummies
Liquid
Powder
But some of these other dosage forms might be in combination with other ingredients. You may also see vegetarian options.
Your specific product will depend on your preference and what you hope to get regarding effects. Because each product may work a bit differently, depending on the form, following a healthcare provider's recommendations or label directions is essential.
Summary
Saffron comes from the Crocus sativus (C. sativus) plant. It has a few potential uses, which include:
Relieving depressive symptoms
Lessening anxiety symptoms
Supporting eye health
Since more research on saffron is necessary, conclusions cannot yet be drawn on its effectiveness. It's important not to delay the diagnosis and treatment of your medical conditions.
Before using saffron, involve a healthcare provider, pharmacist, or registered dietitian nutritionist to help you safely achieve your health goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common dosage form of saffron?
Saffron is available in a few different dosage forms—with capsules potentially being the most common.
What nutrients does saffron contain?
Saffron contains protein, fiber, and vitamins.
How do I take saffron safely?
To safely take natural products—like saffron—inform your healthcare providers and pharmacists about any medication changes. This includes over-the-counter (OTC), herbal, natural medicines, and supplements.
This information can help prevent possible interactions and side effects. They can also ensure that you’re giving saffron a fair trial at appropriate doses.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
