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Study summary · Brain, cognition & mood

What is the comparative effectiveness of saffron versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression and anxiety?

Nutr Rev · 2025 · PMID 38913392 · DOI 10.1093/nutrit/nuae076

Plain-English summary written and published by Magellan Longevity · medical review by Gabriel Radu, DO (physiatrist, NPI 1376861765). We summarize what the paper reported — we did not run this study.

The takeaway

Saffron appears to be as effective as SSRIs for depression and anxiety, with fewer side effects.

The question

What is the comparative effectiveness of saffron versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression and anxiety?

What they tested

Saffron, a natural remedy, may have comparable antidepressant and anxiolytic properties to SSRIs.

How they did it

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database up to April 31, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing saffron with SSRIs in adults with depression or anxiety were included. Random-effects meta-analysis calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs) for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RRs) for binary outcomes.

What they found

Meta-analysis of 8 studies on depression showed a nonsignificant difference between saffron and SSRIs in reducing depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.10). Four studies on anxiety also showed a nonsignificant difference between saffron and SSRIs in reducing anxiety symptoms (SMD = 0.04). Participants receiving saffron experienced fewer adverse events compared to the SSRI group (risk difference: -0.06).

Effectiveness of Saffron vs. SSRIs in Reducing Symptoms
Values shown: Standardized Mean Difference
Depression (SMD)0.1
Anxiety (SMD)0.04

Standardized Mean Differences (SMD) indicate the difference in symptom reduction between saffron and SSRIs. A value close to zero suggests similar effectiveness.

What it means

Saffron may be a potential alternative to SSRIs for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms, with the added benefit of fewer adverse events.

Limitations

Further research with larger sample sizes and diverse populations is needed to validate these findings and investigate factors influencing treatment response.

“Saffron could be a potential SSRI alternative to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms”— from the published abstract, Nutr Rev 2025

The paper at a glance

TitleEffect of Saffron Versus SSRIs in Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
JournalNutr Rev
Year2025
PMID38913392 ↗
DOI10.1093/nutrit/nuae076 ↗
TopicBrain, cognition & mood

Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗

Where Magellan uses this paper

This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

Saffron Extract

Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses report that saffron (commonly about 20-30 mg/day for mood and 14-100 mg/day in sleep studies, over 4-8 weeks) reduces symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression versus placebo and performs comparably to SSRI antidepressants in head-to-head trials with fewer adverse…

Saffron Extract

Saffron is the dried red stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, long used as a culinary spice and in…

Check price on Amazon ↗

Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.

Cite this page

These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.

APA
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What is the comparative effectiveness of saffron versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression and anxiety? [Plain-English summary of Nutr Rev 2025, PMID 38913392, DOI 10.1093/nutrit/nuae076]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38913392.html
BibTeX
@misc{magellan_d38913392, title = {What is the comparative effectiveness of saffron versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression and anxiety?}, author = {{Magellan Longevity}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38913392.html}}, note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 38913392; DOI 10.1093/nutrit/nuae076; Nutr Rev 2025. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO}, urldate = {2026-08-11} }
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How this summary was made. Every section above restates what the published abstract of PMID 38913392 reports — the question, the design, the numbers, the authors’ own conclusion and their stated limitations. We do not add claims the paper did not make, and we keep negative and no-effect findings in. Magellan’s evidence grades are set from research like this and never from affiliate commissions.

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Educational information, not medical advice. This is a plain-English summary of published research; it is not a treatment recommendation and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual studies can be wrong, and a single paper rarely settles a question. Talk to your physician before acting on any research, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.