Saffron and stress

What 2 graded rows on saffron agree on for stress, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the Saffron page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the Saffron page, with its PubMed record.

Supplement

Saffron Choose another

2 rows · 1,799 people

Split. 1 row found no difference and 1 had mixed results.

No difference or mixed

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside. Outlined: mixed results.

From the rows

The best-graded row, grade C, is a meta-analysis of 1,769 people (2026) and reported mixed results.

The rows run from 30 to 1,769 people, published from 2008 to 2026: 1 pooled review and 1 single study.

1 no difference · 1 mixed

Grade DShort-term safety measures · No difference
RCT · n 30 · 2008 · Healthy adult volunteers (5 men and 5 women per group)
200 or 400 mg/day · 7 days
No gross clinical changes. The 400 mg dose lowered standing systolic and mean arterial pressure; red cells, hemoglobin and platelets dipped slightly and sodium, urea and creatinine rose, all within normal ranges.
Row on the Saffron page · PubMed 18693099 (opens PubMed)
Grade CSelf-reported mood and anxiety scores · Mixed
Meta-analysis · n 1,769 · 2026 · Adults in 34 randomized controlled trials (depression, anxiety and mood-disorder outcomes)
Not stated in the abstract · At least 4 weeks
Saffron lowered self-reported depression (BDI, 14 trials, -4.39) and anxiety (BAI, 6 trials, -5.06) scores, but clinician-rated scales (HDRS, HARS) and mood profile (POMS) did not change.
Row on the Saffron page · PubMed 41693488 (opens PubMed)