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

What is known and objective Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, has known anti‐depressive properties. However, its effects on food craving and body weight in depressed patients are unknown. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the effects of saffron capsules on food craving, body weight and depress...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics 2020-02, Vol.45 (1), p.134-143
Main Authors: Akhondzadeh, Shahin, Mostafavi, Seyed‐Ali, Keshavarz, Seyed Ali, Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza, Hosseini, Saeed, Eshraghian, Mohammad Reza
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antidepressants
Body composition
Body weight
Clinical trials
Crocus sativus
Crocus sativus L
Demographic variables
Demographics
depression
Food
food craving
Mental depression
obesity
Overweight
randomized clinical trial
Saffron
Side effects
Variance analysis
women
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Summary:What is known and objective Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, has known anti‐depressive properties. However, its effects on food craving and body weight in depressed patients are unknown. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the effects of saffron capsules on food craving, body weight and depression among overweight women with mild and moderate depression compared to the placebo. Methods Seventy‐three women with BMI ≥ 25 comorbid with mild‐to‐moderate depression were recruited in this 12‐week double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned into one of the two groups receiving daily either 30 mg of Crocus sativus capsules (15 mg twice/day) or placebo capsules (twice/day). We performed body composition assessments, and beck depression inventory‐II at the baseline, and then 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks later. One month after the participants stopped taking the capsules, weight differences were measured and compared between groups. Results and discussion Fifty‐two patients finished the study. The demographic and clinical variables at baseline were the same in two groups. Mean depression scores in the saffron group significantly decreased compared to placebo (mean ± SD: −8.4 score ± 5.9 vs −3.9 ± 5.5; t[50] = 2; P = .007; 95% CI: 1.3‐7.7). There was not a significant effect of saffron on food craving using repeated‐measures ANOVA, F(1, 29) = 0.38, P = .54. Patients in the saffron group showed fewer side effects. What is new and conclusion Saffron capsules were not effective in reducing food craving, but as a safe over‐the‐counter supplement, it may help reduce the symptoms of depression in patients who experience mild or moderate depression and are overweight. Women with BMI ≥ 25 comorbid with mild‐to‐moderate depression were randomly assigned into one of the two groups receiving daily either 30 mg of saffron capsules (15 mg twice/day) or placebo capsules (twice/day) for 12 weeks. Mean depression scores in the saffron group significantly decreased compared to placebo, while there was not a significant effect of saffron on food craving during the study.
ISSN:0269-4727
1365-2710
DOI:10.1111/jcpt.13040