Recommended Dosage of Saffron for Anxiety
The recommended dosage of saffron for anxiety is 30 mg per day, which has demonstrated efficacy comparable to standard pharmaceutical treatments with minimal side effects. 1
Evidence for Saffron in Anxiety Management
- Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has shown significant anxiolytic effects in clinical studies, with efficacy comparable to conventional medications 1
- A 6-week clinical trial demonstrated that 30 mg/day of saffron was as effective as 40 mg/day of citalopram in treating anxiety symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder with anxious distress 1
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that 50 mg of saffron capsule (stigma) twice daily for 12 weeks significantly improved anxiety scores compared to placebo 2
- A meta-analysis of clinical trials showed that saffron supplementation had a large positive effect size (g = 0.95, P < 0.006) when compared with placebo for anxiety symptoms 3
Dosing Recommendations
- Standard therapeutic dose: 30 mg daily (single dose or divided) 1
- Alternative dosing regimen: 50 mg twice daily has also shown efficacy in clinical trials 2
- Duration of treatment: Clinical benefits have been observed with treatment periods of 6-12 weeks 1, 2
Mechanism of Action
- Saffron contains active compounds including crocin and safranal that appear to contribute to its anxiolytic effects 4
- Safranal specifically has demonstrated anxiolytic effects at doses of 0.15 and 0.35 mL/kg in experimental models 4
- High-dose saffron treatment has been shown to increase hippocampal BDNF gene expression while reducing TNF-α gene expression, which may contribute to its anti-anxiety effects 5
Safety Considerations
- Saffron appears to be well-tolerated with minimal side effects reported in clinical trials 1, 2
- Side effects are rare at therapeutic doses 2
- No significant differences in adverse effects have been observed between saffron and placebo in controlled trials 3
Clinical Application
- Saffron may be considered as an alternative to conventional anxiolytics like benzodiazepines, which carry risks of tolerance, addiction, and cognitive impairment 6
- Unlike benzodiazepines, which can cause paradoxical agitation in approximately 10% of patients, saffron has not been associated with this adverse effect 6
- For patients with both anxiety and depression, saffron may provide dual benefits, addressing both conditions simultaneously 1, 2