However, the women participants with low mood and poor sleep didn’t show significant improvements in sleep disturbance, self-rated physical appearance, or AI-estimated skin age.
The saffron extract used is marketed as Affron by Pharmactive Biotech Products, which funded the study. The Australian researchers noted that Affron’s full effects need to be explored in adequately powered future trials, and the current findings regarding sleep and self-esteem should be regarded as exploratory.
“The biological mechanisms underlying the antidepressant and sleep-promoting effects of saffron also require further investigation,” they wrote in Frontiers in Nutrition.
The researchers evaluated outcomes relating to depression, sleep and skin aging, noting that signs of aging and lower self-evaluations of appearance may contribute to poorer psychological wellbeing. Sleep disturbance can be a symptom of depression and also contribute to increased stress and anxiety.
The current study hypothesized that saffron may lead to improvements in participants by several mechanisms. These included improved sleep leading to more positive thoughts and better self-esteem, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation positively impacting depressive pathology and skin aging.
The researchers noted that “The effects of saffron on skin quality have received little attention.”
Saffron’s potential benefits
Saffron is derived from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L. and has been used extensively in ancient herbal medicine. Its active ingredients have been studied for their cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, and there is particular interest in its neuroprotective effects.
Research suggests that saffron has the potential to support mental health due to its capacity to regulate neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. The mechanism may involve inhibiting serotonin reuptake at neuronal synapses, thereby promoting its positive effects on mood.
Additionally, saffron has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which may protect against depression.
Evidence suggests that saffron may have comparable effects to some antidepressant medications in people with mild to moderate symptoms, and there is also promising research for sleep disorders. Doses within the range are generally safe, but there is limited clinical evidence supporting their use during pregnancy.
Study details
Researchers randomly assigned 86 women aged 50 to 70, with low mood and sleep disturbance, to receive either 28 mg/day of a saffron extract or placebo for 12 weeks.
To assess psychological symptoms, self-worth, and skin aging, the researchers used appropriate scales and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment scales, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, a self-report measure of physical appearance, and facial skin age estimated using an AI–based application.
The results showed that compared with placebo, saffron extract resulted in greater reductions in DASS-21 depression scores and a clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms in 48.8% of participants receiving saffron compared with 25.6% taking the placebo.
They also observed greater improvements in self-esteem and sleep-related impairment in the saffron group. “However, these secondary findings should be regarded as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, as the study was powered only for the primary outcome,” they wrote.
There were no significant differences between groups for sleep disturbance, self-rated physical appearance, or estimated facial skin age.
Noting that the positive effects on depression were consistent with previous studies of Affon, the researchers called for larger studies to establish the consistency of effects.
Source: Front. Nutr., 17 June 2026, Sec. Nutrition, Psychology and Brain Health, Volume 13 - 2026 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1838513, “The effects of a saffron extract (Affron®) on mood, sleep, self-esteem, and exploratory measures of physical appearance in women aged 50 to 70 years experiencing low mood and poor sleep: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Authors: A. L. Lopresti et al.
