TY - JOUR T1 - affron[®] a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. AU - Kell,Graham, AU - Rao,Amanda, AU - Beccaria,Gavin, AU - Clayton,Paul, AU - Inarejos-García,Antonio Manuel, AU - Prodanov,Marin, Y1 - 2017/06/13/ PY - 2017/02/03/received PY - 2017/04/15/revised PY - 2017/06/04/accepted PY - 2017/7/25/entrez PY - 2017/7/25/pubmed PY - 2017/9/2/medline KW - Clinical trial KW - Depression KW - Mood disorders KW - Phytonutrient KW - Saffron extract SP - 58 EP - 64 JF - Complementary therapies in medicine JO - Complement Ther Med VL - 33 N2 - BACKGROUND: In recent years phytotherapy has been explored as a source for alternative treatments for mood disorders. One potential candidate is saffron (Crocus sativus L.), whose main bioactive components are crocins and safranal. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of affron[®], a standardised stigmas extract from Crocus sativus L. for improving mood, stress, anxiety and sleep quality in healthy adults. METHODS: In this 3 arm study, 128 participants self-reporting low mood but not diagnosed with depression, were given affron[®] at 28mg/day, 22mg/day, or a placebo treatment in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for 4 weeks. Mood was measured at baseline and at the end of the study, using the POMS (primary outcome measure) and PANAS questionnaires, and the DASS-21 scale. Sleep was monitored using Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: Analysis indicated a significant decrease in negative mood and symptoms related to stress and anxiety at a 28mg/day dose (with a significant difference between 28mg/day and placebo on the POMS Total Mood Disturbance scale, p<0.001, d=-1.10), but no treatment effect at the 22mg/day dose. LIMITATIONS: The main weaknesses of this investigation were found in the self-reporting nature of both the screening and the testing. CONCLUSIONS: affron[®] increased mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects, offering a natural alternative to standard treatments. SN - 1873-6963 UR - https://neuro.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/28735826/affron[®]_a_novel_saffron_extract__Crocus_sativus_L___improves_mood_in_healthy_adults_over_4_weeks_in_a_double_blind_parallel_randomized_placebo_controlled_clinical_trial_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -