Evidence brief · Supplement
Saffron for Mild-to-moderate depression
Evidence grade B — ~30 mg/day
- Overall grade
- Grade B
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
Assembled by the app from other entries in this library. It adds no evidence of its own — follow the links to the entries it draws on.
1 at grade B — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Mild-to-moderate depressionEvidence grade B
~30 mg/day
Moderatemixed
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Studies disagree: Mild-to-moderate depression (mixed agreement).
The evidence in words
The verdict
For mild-to-moderate depression, Saffron earns evidence grade B (moderate effect, mixed consistency) — there is real evidence here. ~30 mg/day
How it might work
Its carotenoids appear to have serotonergic and antioxidant/anti-inflammatory actions relevant to depression.
How to use it
30 mg/day of a standardized extract (e.g., 15 mg twice daily).
Safety & cautions
Well tolerated at supplemental doses; culinary-scale amounts are safe, but very high doses are toxic. As a serotonergic agent, combining with antidepressants warrants caution.
Bottom line
The mood botanical with the most convincing small-trial evidence: 30 mg/day standardized for mild-to-moderate low mood. Clear it with a prescriber if you're on serotonergic drugs.
How it is used
As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.
- Standard
- 30 mg/day standardized (15 mg ×2).
Goes with
- SaffronRead the full Saffron monographEvidence grade B
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Saffron for Anxiety / PMSEvidence grade C — Secondary signalsEvidence grade C
- Saffron for Depression (mild-moderate)Evidence grade B — Small but repeated trialsEvidence grade B
- Kava for AnxietyEvidence grade B — Meta-analytic vs placeboEvidence grade B
- Saffron: dosage and how to take it30 mg/day standardized (15 mg ×2).Evidence grade B
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own — it is assembled from the entries it links to, whose sources are on their pages.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.