A placebo controlled randomized clinical trial of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) on depression and food craving among overweight women with mild to moderate depression

Although Crocus sativus (commonly known as saffron) has demonstrated its antidepressant properties, this 2020 study explored the impact of consuming saffron capsules on food craving, body weight, and depression in overweight women with mild to moderate depression. The seventy-three women who participated all had a BMI of 25 or above. They were randomized to either receive 30 mg of Crocus sativus capsules or 30mg of placebo capsules daily in this 12-week clinical trial. The results showed that the average depression scores were significantly lower in the saffron group, compared to the placebo group. But there was no evidence of saffron influencing food cravings in the women. Moreover, the treatment group experienced fewer side effects than the placebo group. This trial indicated that saffron capsules did not effectively reduce food cravings in overweight patients with mild/moderate depression but can potentially help reduce their depressive symptoms. [NPID: saffron, depression, women, overweight, depressed, antidepressants, crocus, cravings, alternative, herbs, herbal]

Year: 2020

Reference: Akhondzadeh, S., Mostafavi, S. A., Keshavarz, S. A., Mohammadi, M. R., Hosseini, S., & Eshraghian, M. R. (2020). A placebo controlled randomized clinical trial of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) on depression and food craving among overweight women with mild to moderate depression. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, 45(1), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.13040