{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"saffron","kind":"supplement","name":"saffron","aliases":["Crocus sativus","crocin","safranal"],"brands_sg":["California Gold Nutrition","Nutricost","Life Extension","NOW Foods","BrainMD"],"class":"botanical","tags":["general","cognitive"],"use_for":"self-reported mood scores — clinician scales did not move","use_after":null,"use_duration":"trials ran at least four weeks; most around six","take_with":null,"pros":["34-rct meta-analysis: bdi fell, moderate certainty","102 trials reviewed; side effects mostly minor, gut","pms meta-analysis found a moderate effect size"],"cons":["no effect on clinician-rated hdrs, hars or poms","about 17.5% of users reported an adverse event","higher intakes in pregnancy raise miscarriage risk"],"dose_note":"placebo-controlled trials in mild-to-moderate low mood most commonly gave 30 mg a day for about six weeks; singapore listings run 28 mg to 88.5 mg per capsule; the 2026 pregnancy review calls about 250 mg a day a low dose and links higher intakes to uterine stimulation","dosage":{"ul":null,"unit":"mg","fda_dv":null,"rda_ai":null,"ul_status":"none_established","population":"general adult","hsa_max_daily":null},"ul_status":"none_established","sg_class":null,"cautions":["pregnancy — higher intakes are linked to uterine stimulation","already on an antidepressant — trials tested it as an add-on","higher or prolonged doses — the 2026 review advises monitoring","singapore does not allow depression claims on supplements"],"clashes":[],"sources":[{"id":"mahmoudi2026","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41693488","label":"Effect of saffron on depression, anxiety and mood disorder: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials (Mahmoudi et al., Nutr Neurosci 2026)","quote":"A total of 34 RCTs comprising 1769 participants were included. Saffron supplementation significantly reduced scores on BDI … No significant effects were observed for the HDRS, HARS, or POMS. The certainty of evidence was rated as moderate","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hasheminasab2026","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13121846","label":"Adverse Events of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Systematic Review of Current Evidence (Hasheminasab et al., Health Sci Rep 2026)","quote":"A total of 102 clinical trials and a single case report were included … The estimated incidence of adverse events related to C. sativus consumption is around 17.5%. The most frequently reported side effects were gastrointestinal problems, which were minor and self-limiting in most cases.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"dimech2026","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13044667","label":"The Role of Saffron in the Treatment of Depression: A Literature Review (Dimech, Cureus 2026)","quote":"saffron, most commonly administered at 30 mg per day for approximately six weeks, has been associated with clinically meaningful reductions in depressive symptom severity … Adjunctive studies … provide preliminary support for augmentation in partial responders","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"mohammadi2026","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12835668","label":"Effect of saffron on premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Mohammadi & Karimi, Korean J Fam Med 2026)","quote":"Meta-analysis revealed that saffron had a significant positive effect on the symptoms of PMS in women (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.84 to -0.44).","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"alshdefat2026","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13213103","label":"Saffron and Pregnancy: Cultural Practices, Beliefs, and Safety Evidence: An Integrative Review (Alshdefat et al., J Evid Based Integr Med 2026)","quote":"Clinical evidence indicates low-dose saffron (approximately 250 milligrams daily) may facilitate cervical ripening … These effects are dose-dependent, with higher doses or occupational exposure linked to uterine stimulation and increased miscarriage risk.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_annex","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-chp-prohibited-restricted-ing-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, Version 1 (Oct 2025), Annex A (72 rows) and Annex B (4 rows: caffeine, green tea extract, St John's wort, L-tryptophan) — read from the cached PDF text on disk","quote":"The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_table6","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-hs-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA — Health Supplements Guidelines, Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), Table 6: diseases/conditions not allowed for health supplements","quote":"HS must not be labelled, advertised or promoted for any specific medicinal purpose, i.e. treatment or prevention, implied or otherwise, of any disease or disorder, including its related conditions.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"iherb_sg","url":"https://sg.iherb.com/c/saffron","label":"iHerb Singapore — Saffron category (default order, 1 - 36 of 36 results)","quote":"California Gold Nutrition, Saffron Extract with Affron, 28 mg … Nutricost, Saffron, 88.5 mg … Life Extension, Optimized Saffron (78 mg per Capsule) … NOW Foods, Saffron, 50 mg … BrainMD, Happy Saffron Plus","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":[{"brand":"BrainMD","example":null,"programme":"NSF Certified for Sport","matching_products":0,"brand_total_certified":1}],"updated_at":"2026-08-30T17:59:36.026222+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}