The Effect of Saffron Supplementation on Blood Pressure in Adults: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Background: The favorable influences of saffron supplementation on metabolic diseases have previously been shown. We aimed to assess the effects of saffron supplementation on blood pressure in adults. Methods: A systematic search was performed in Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane library databases to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effect of saffron supplementation on blood pressure in adults up to March 2021. The primary search yielded 182 publications, of which eight RCTs were eligible. Results: Our results showed that saffron supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (weighted mean difference (WMD): −0.65 mmHg; 95% CI: −1.12 to −0.18, p = 0.006) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD: −1.23 mmHg; 95% CI: −1.64 to −0.81, p < 0.001). Moreover, saffron supplementation reduced DBP in a non-linear fashion, based on duration (r = −2.45, p-nonlinearity = 0.008). Conclusions: Saffron supplementation may significantly improve both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults. It should be noted that the hypotensive effects of saffron supplementation were small and may not reach clinical importance.

The effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in conjunction with concurrent training on body composition, glycaemic status, and inflammatory markers in obese men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double‐blind clinical trial

“…51,53 Saffron contains more than 150 chemical compounds including vitamins (such as thiamine and riboflavin), amino acids (alanine, proline and aspartic acid), polysaccharides, flavonoids and carotenoids (including crocin and crocetin), which are known as key regulators of the antioxidant and inflammatory responses. 20 The antioxidant properties of crocin reduce the levels of endogenously generated reactive oxygen species, particularly hydrogen peroxide, in platelets, and consequently, inhibit oxidative stress, which plays an important role in the production of pro-inflammatory biomarkers. 23 In an experimental study, western blot results showed that the protein expression of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and p-Akt were significantly improved by crocin supplementation in diabetic rats.…”

“…Nutritional and physical activity strategies have gained substantial interest in the prevention and treatment of non‐communicable chronic diseases 20–24 . For instance, saffron ( Crocus sativus L .)…”

Effect of Crocus sativus (Saffron) Intake on Top of Standard Treatment, on Disease Outcomes and Comorbidities in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Synthesis without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) and Level of Adherence to the CONSORT Statement for Randomized Controlled Trials Delivering Herbal Medicine Interventions

“…The duration of the intervention varied greatly in the included RCTs, spanning from as low as 8 weeks [30] to 4 months [28]. It is possible that a longer intervention duration might have changed the results in several trials, as other trials administering saffron for other conditions have, in their majority, applied the interventions for 3-4 months [9,15,93], with a respective follow-up session. Moreover, according to a recent meta-analysis, longer saffron supplementation durations have been shown to improve outcomes with regard to blood pressure [15].…”

“…It is possible that a longer intervention duration might have changed the results in several trials, as other trials administering saffron for other conditions have, in their majority, applied the interventions for 3-4 months [9,15,93], with a respective follow-up session. Moreover, according to a recent meta-analysis, longer saffron supplementation durations have been shown to improve outcomes with regard to blood pressure [15]. Suffice to say, the exact intervention duration required to produce beneficial effects for each outcome has not yet been delineated.…”

“…Saffron, in particular, is the dried stigma of the flowers of Crocus sativus L. (family Iridaceae), cultivated mainly in Southern Europe, India and Iran, and is considered as one of the most expensive culinary spices globally [8]. The medicinal properties of saffron and its constituents (safranal, crocin, and crocetin) include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, antitussive, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anxiolytic, anticancer, and antinociceptive characteristics [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Nevertheless, although saffron supplementation has been tested in patients with various RDs employing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, we have insufficient evidence regarding its efficacy, as no systematic reviews have attempted to synthetize these data in order to aid in the formulation of recommendations.…”