Wolfgang Marx1, Melissa Lane1, Tetyana Rocks1, Anu Ruusunen1,2, Amy Loughman1, Adrian Lopresti3, Skye Marshall4, Michael Berk5,6, Felice Jacka1,7, Olivia M Dean5,8. 1. Food & Mood Centre, IMPACT SRC, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, and the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 3. School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 4. Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia. 5. IMPACT SRC, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. 6. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, and Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health and the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 7. Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia, and the Black Dog Institute, New South Wales, Australia. 8. Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has gained interest as a potential treatment in psychiatry. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to investigate the effect of saffron supplementation, as both an adjunctive therapy and monotherapy, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in clinical and general populations compared with pharmacotherapy or placebo. DATA SOURCES: Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. DATA EXTRACTION: A meta-analysis was conducted to determine treatment effect. Risk of bias was assessed using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included. Saffron had a large positive effect size when compared with placebo for depressive symptoms (g = 0.99, P < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (g = 0.95, P < 0.006). Saffron also had a large positive effect size when used as an adjunct to antidepressants for depressive symptoms (g = 1.23, P = 0.028). Egger's regression test found evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Saffron could be an effective intervention for symptoms of depression and anxiety; however, due to evidence of publication bias and lack of regional diversity, further trials are required. PROSPERO registration CRD42017070060.
CONTEXT: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has gained interest as a potential treatment in psychiatry. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to investigate the effect of saffron supplementation, as both an adjunctive therapy and monotherapy, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in clinical and general populations compared with pharmacotherapy or placebo. DATA SOURCES: Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. DATA EXTRACTION: A meta-analysis was conducted to determine treatment effect. Risk of bias was assessed using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included. Saffron had a large positive effect size when compared with placebo for depressive symptoms (g = 0.99, P < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (g = 0.95, P < 0.006). Saffron also had a large positive effect size when used as an adjunct to antidepressants for depressive symptoms (g = 1.23, P = 0.028). Egger's regression test found evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Saffron could be an effective intervention for symptoms of depression and anxiety; however, due to evidence of publication bias and lack of regional diversity, further trials are required. PROSPERO registration CRD42017070060.
Authors: Jerome Sarris; Wolfgang Marx; Melanie M Ashton; Chee H Ng; Nicole Galvao-Coelho; Zahra Ayati; Zhang-Jin Zhang; Siegfried Kasper; Arun Ravindran; Brian H Harvey; Adrian Lopresti; David Mischoulon; Jay Amsterdam; Lakshmi N Yatham; Michael Berk Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2021-02-18 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: Sabrina Mörkl; Linda Stell; Diana V Buhai; Melanie Schweinzer; Jolana Wagner-Skacel; Christian Vajda; Sonja Lackner; Susanne A Bengesser; Theresa Lahousen; Annamaria Painold; Andreas Oberascher; Josef M Tatschl; Matthäus Fellinger; Annabel Müller-Stierlin; Ana C Serban; Joseph Ben-Sheetrit; Ana-Marija Vejnovic; Mary I Butler; Vicent Balanzá-Martínez; Nikola Zaja; Polona Rus-Prelog; Robertas Strumila; Scott B Teasdale; Eva Z Reininghaus; Sandra J Holasek Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-03-02 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Paula Almodóvar; David Briskey; Amanda Rao; Marín Prodanov; Antonio M Inarejos-García Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2020-01-30 Impact factor: 2.629