Saffron

Also known as: Crocus sativus, affron, crocin, safranal

Confidence

research strength

BBuilding confidence717 studies referenced

Latest evidence update: 2026-01-26

Strongest in Consistency (95). Held back by Replication (59).

Study quality (37%)

Study design (21%)

Risk of bias (16%)

Mostly meta-analyses and well-designed RCTs.

Replication (26%)

Cross-study replication (21%)

Precision (5%)

Good cross-study replication, some imprecision.

Sample size (16%)

Tens of thousands of participants pooled across studies.

Consistency (11%)

Studies agree on direction of effect.

Recency (10%)

Most studies are recent (last 2-3 years).

Effect by outcome

how big the change is

No quantified outcomes yet. Once we have studies with measurable endpoints, you will see per-outcome magnitude here.

Directional evidence

Areas where research points to a consistent direction of effect. The strength of evidence is graded; the size of the effect is not quantified.

Common dosage

28 to 30 mg standardized saffron extract (such as affron) daily, or 100 mg saffron powder. Mood effects build over 4 to 8 weeks.

Description

Saffron is the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, standardized in supplements to bioactives crocin and safranal. Its strongest evidence is for mild to moderate depression and anxiety, where trials find it comparable to SSRIs with fewer side effects; it is also studied for age-related macular degeneration.

Safety & interactions

Well tolerated at supplement doses. Doses above 1.5 g per day can cause nausea, and very high doses are unsafe. Avoid in pregnancy. May add to the effect of antidepressants.

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Recommended: 28 to 30 mg standardized saffron extract (such as affron) daily, or 100 mg saffron powder. Mood effects build over 4 to 8 weeks.

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Questions about Saffron

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Referenced studies (7)

ProtocolEngine provides general health information based on published research. This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or health protocol.