Saffron: Mood Enhancer

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Saffron: Mood Enhancer

Saffron Extract: The Mood Enhancer for PMS and PMDD

In recent years, the extracted form of the saffron spice has gained attention for its potential to improve mood, including for those suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

What Does the Research Say?

Saffron and PMDD

Clinical trials on PMDD are rare, so a study examining saffron extract's effects on 120 women diagnosed with PMDD is especially exciting. Participants were given either saffron extract, the antidepressant fluoxetine, or a placebo. Saffron extract was found to significantly reduce the severity of PMDD symptoms when compared to the placebo. What's more, saffron was just as effective as fluoxetine in improving PMDD symptoms1.

Saffron and PMS

When it comes to PMS, the benefits of saffron extract are equally compelling. Two randomised, placebo-controlled studies showed that taking saffron extract daily across 2 cycles significantly alleviated PMS symptoms2-3. For example, in one of the studies, 76% of women taking saffron experienced over a 50% reduction in their PMS scores, compared to only 8% of women in the placebo group. Those taking saffron also experienced a marked decrease in depressive symptom scores2.

How Does This Work?

Saffron is shown in several studies to have an antidepressant effect in humans4. Its mood-enhancing properties are believed to come from its powerful bioactive compounds, primarily safranal and crocin. These compounds have been shown to influence the brain’s neurotransmitter systems, particularly by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin and dopamine 5-7. These "feel-good" chemicals play a key role in regulating mood, and saffron helps keep more of them available in the brain, potentially lifting mood and reducing feelings of depression and anxiety often associated with PMS and PMDD.

Saffron also has powerful antioxidant properties (a mechanism confirmed in human studies)8. It helps reduce oxidative stress, protecting the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. It essentially helps keep your body and brain running smoothly, reducing the physical and emotional discomforts that often come with PMS.

But saffron’s benefits don’t stop there. It’s also known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Saffron appears to reduce inflammation by help by blocking the activity of pro-inflammatory compounds in the body. It also influences something called the NF-κB pathway,  which plays a central role in regulating inflammation9. By reducing inflammation, saffron can help to decrease period pain.

How To Supplement With Saffron

The effective daily dose is 30 mg. DITTO’s menstrual cycle supplement offers exactly this!

  1. Rajabi F, Rahimi M, Sharbafchizadeh MR, Tarrahi MJ. Saffron for the Management of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Adv Biomed Res. 2020;9:60.
  2. Agha-Hosseini M, Kashani L, Aleyaseen A, et al. Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG. 2008;115(4):515-519. 
  3. Beiranvand S, Beiranvand N, Moghadam Z, Birjandi M, Azhari S, Rezaei E, et al. The effect of crocus sativus (saffron) on the severity of premenstrual syndrome. Eur J Integr Med. 2016;8(1):55-61.
  4. Dai L, Chen L, Wang W. Safety and Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2020;208(4):269-276.
  5. Matraszek-Gawron R, Chwil M, Terlecki K, Skoczylas MM. Current Knowledge of the Antidepressant Activity of Chemical Compounds from Crocus sativus L. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022;16(1):58.
  6. Siddiqui SA, Ali Redha A, Snoeck ER, et al. Anti-Depressant Properties of Crocin Molecules in Saffron. Molecules. 2022;27(7):2076.
  7. Mohajeri S.A., Sepahi S., Azam A.G. Chapter 27—Antidepressant and antianxiety properties of saffron. In: Koocheki A., Khajeh-Hosseini M., editors. Saffron Science, Technology and Health. Woodhead Publishing; Cambridgeshire, UK: 2020. pp. 431–444
  8. Abedi A, Ghobadi H, Sharghi A, Iranpour S, Fazlzadeh M, Aslani MR. Effect of saffron supplementation on oxidative stress markers (MDA, TAC, TOS, GPx, SOD, and pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance): An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10:1071514. 
  9. Anaeigoudari F, Anaeigoudari A, Kheirkhah-Vakilabad A. A review of therapeutic impacts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its constituents. Physiol Rep. 2023;11(15):e15785.
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