Saffron extract supports sleep quality, says recent study

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A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine¹ found that a branded saffron extract, Affron, from Pharmactive (Madrid, Spain), supported parameters of sleep quality. In the parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial study, 55 adults with self-reported sleep problems were randomized to receive either 14 mg twice daily or placebo for 28 days. Outcomes were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) at baseline, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, as well as Restorative Sleep Questionnaire (RSQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Diary (PSD) collected on days -1, 0, 3, 7, 14, 27, and 28.

Results showed that supplementation with saffron greatly improved total scores of ISI and RSQ, as well as PSD sleep quality ratings, compared to placebo. “[Disordered sleep] is a problem pervasive across all age groups, and consumers are increasingly turning to natural botanicals for relief,” said Julia Diaz, head of marketing of Pharmactive, in a press release. “While there was some preliminary evidence for saffron’s potential as a natural sleeping aid, we found that robust clinical evidence was still somewhat lacking. This latest study gives strong backing for affron’s abilities as a sleep aid.”

This study sets the stage for larger studies with objective outcome measures.

References:

1. Lopresti A et al. “Effects of saffron on sleep quality in healthy adults with self-reported poor sleep: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Published online ahead of print on February 14, 2020