Can saffron help lower cortisol levels?

Saffron Does Not Lower Cortisol in Healthy Individuals, But May Modulate Stress Response Timing

Based on the highest quality recent evidence, saffron does not significantly reduce cortisol levels, but it may delay the timing of cortisol peaks during acute stress and improve psychological stress responses. The evidence for saffron's effects on cortisol is limited to small research studies in specific contexts, with no guideline-level recommendations supporting its use for cortisol reduction 1, 2.

Evidence Quality and Context

The available evidence consists entirely of small research studies, with no clinical guidelines addressing saffron for cortisol management. The most rigorous study was a 2023 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in healthy young men 1.

Key Findings from the Strongest Evidence

In the 2023 crossover study of 19 healthy men exposed to laboratory stress (Maastricht Acute Stress Test), saffron extract (30 mg) and its volatile compound safranal did not reduce cortisol levels but delayed the time to peak salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations compared to placebo (p < 0.05) 1.

• The psychological stress and anxiety responses were significantly reduced with both saffron and safranal administration 1
• This suggests saffron may modulate the timing of the stress response rather than suppress cortisol production 1

Supporting Animal Research

In a 2022 rat study using sub-chronic restraint stress (6 hours/day for 7 days), high-dose saffron (60 mg/kg for 7 days post-stress) significantly reduced serum cortisol levels, while the low dose (30 mg/kg) did not affect cortisol 2.

• The high dose showed effects only after 7 days of treatment, indicating a delayed response 2
• Both doses reduced anxiety-like behavior in stressed rats 2
• The cortisol-lowering effect was observed only in the context of chronic stress, not in unstressed animals 2

A 2018 rat PTSD model study showed that saffron (5 mg/kg) combined with deep brain stimulation significantly increased serum corticosterone levels (the rat equivalent of cortisol), contrary to expectations 3.

• This paradoxical increase may reflect restoration of normal HPA axis function in severely dysregulated animals 3
• The treatment reduced anxiety behaviors and c-Fos protein expression in the amygdala 3

Clinical Implications and Limitations

Why Saffron Should Not Be Recommended for Cortisol Reduction

There is no evidence that saffron lowers cortisol in individuals with normal HPA axis function or in clinical conditions requiring cortisol reduction (such as Cushing's disease). The guidelines for Cushing's disease management clearly identify effective cortisol-lowering medications—including ketoconazole, metyrapone, and osilodrostat—with robust evidence for cortisol suppression 4.

• Ketoconazole normalizes urinary free cortisol in 49% of patients with Cushing's syndrome 4
• Metyrapone achieves UFC normalization in 71% of patients 4
• Osilodrostat maintains normal UFC in 86% of patients in randomized trials 4

In contrast, saffron has never been studied in patients with hypercortisolism or Cushing's disease, and the one guideline that mentions saffron in any context notes serious adverse hematological reactions in a male infertility study 4.

Potential Role in Stress Management

The evidence suggests saffron may have a role in managing psychological stress responses rather than biological cortisol reduction:

• Multiple clinical trials show antidepressant effects comparable to fluoxetine and citalopram in adults with depression 5, 6
• A 2025 trial of 202 adults with subclinical depressive symptoms found 28 mg daily saffron improved depression scores by 2.92 points more than placebo (Cohen's d = 0.39) 6
• The mechanism appears to involve psychological stress perception rather than direct HPA axis suppression 1, 5

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Do not recommend saffron for patients with medical conditions requiring cortisol reduction, such as Cushing's disease, as there is zero evidence for efficacy and established medical therapies exist 4, 7.

• Patients with Cushing's disease require treatment with proven steroidogenesis inhibitors or surgical intervention 7
• Delaying appropriate treatment could result in serious complications including venous thromboembolism, metabolic derangements, and cardiovascular events 7

Be aware that one study reported serious adverse hematological reactions with saffron (Crocus sativus/Linn) in a male infertility trial, though details were limited 4.

• The safety profile in short-term studies (up to 12 weeks) appears favorable, with no serious adverse reactions in the largest trial to date 6
• However, long-term safety data are lacking 5, 6

Recognize that large placebo responses occur in stress and mood studies, which complicates interpretation of saffron's true efficacy 6.

• In the 2025 trial, 54.3% of placebo participants achieved clinically significant improvement in depression scores 6
• This suggests that any recommendation for saffron should acknowledge substantial placebo effects 6

Bottom Line

Saffron cannot be recommended for lowering cortisol levels based on current evidence. While it may modulate stress response timing and improve psychological stress symptoms in healthy individuals, these effects are modest and not equivalent to cortisol suppression 1. For patients requiring actual cortisol reduction, established medical therapies with proven efficacy should be used 4, 7.