A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition on PharmActive’s saffron extract, Affron, has found that the nutraceutical may combat low mood in users with mild depression.1
This succeeds 10 previous clinical studies on the ingredient, which have highlighted its potential in managing stress, promoting melatonin release, boosting sleep quality and tackling menopausal symptoms.
The results of the most recent study suggest that Affron could offer a natural, long-term solution to mild depression, which is estimated to impact at least 11% of the population.
To find out more about the study’s results, the molecular mechanisms behind Affron’s mood-boosting activity and what these findings mean for the nutraceutical industry, we spoke with Adrian Lopresti, lead author of the study and Founder of CRO, Clinical Research Australia.
Looking after emotional wellbeing is as important as taking care of our physical health
Creating natural solutions to low mood
As mental health research continues to progress, it is becoming increasingly clear that looking after emotional wellbeing is as important as taking care of our physical health.
With this shift in societal perception comes a growing number of individuals with mental health issues seeking aid — whether that be through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), pharmaceutical interventions or mood-focused supplements.
For those who are considered subclinical, meaning they have symptoms of depression but don’t meet the diagnostic criteria, there are often a lack of options offered by the healthcare system; meaning the nutraceutical industry should be there to bridge this gap.
“Experiencing depressive symptoms can have a negative impact on quality of life, while also impacting social, occupational and education function,” notes Lopresti.
“It’s also associated with an increased prevalence of adverse health effects, such as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal issues and neurological conditions — so identifying natural options to support mood is highly important.” he adds.
This is particularly true for those who don’t want to take the pharmaceutical route, or who don’t have easy access to psychological therapies.
To assess how Affron would fare as a natural solution to mild depression, Clinical Research Australia randomised 202 participants to receive either 28mg of Affron or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Study reveals Affron’s mood-enhancing benefits
For this study, Lopresti and his team studied the impact of Affron in people with subclinical depression. “We chose to study this cohort in tandem with PharmActive because most studies involving saffron have been conducted in people with major depressive disorder,” he states.
During the study period, they found that daily supplementation with Affron was associated with greater reductions in depression compared with the placebo group.
“Depression scores reduced by 53% in the Affron group, while the placebo cohort experienced a 39% reduction,” says Lopresti. “This equated to 72% of participants experiencing a clinically meaningful reduction in depression — which is defined as a more than 7-point reduction in depression scores.”
The team also observed some reductions in self-reported stress, but there were no group differences in anxiety following supplementation with Affron.
Interestingly, those who self-reported sleep issues before the study experienced a 12% reduction in sleep disturbance, suggesting the ingredient could also benefit consumers looking for a natural sleep health solution.
“There is now a good body of evidence demonstrating the antidepressant effects of saffron, and this large-scale study further proves this hypothesis,” asserts Lopresti.
Since saffron is an expensive spice, it is commonly subject to adulteration — meaning the market could be littered with low-quality extracts. “This study is significant because it provides evidence of the safety and efficacy of Affron, meaning formulators can incorporate it with confidence,” he adds.
Saffron boosts the prevalence of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine
Affron’s mode of action
As the saffron plant contains a wide range of bioactives, it is sometimes hard to pin down the exact compounds that drive its anti-depressant activity.
“The compounds we believe are associated with saffron’s therapeutic activity are crocin, crocetin and safranal — which means that it likely has several mechanisms of action,” states Lopresti.
Research suggests that saffron works by boosting the prevalence of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, providing neuroprotection and modulating the stress response by managing cortisol levels.
It has also been implicated in increasing the prevalence of proteins and neurotrophins associated with neuronal growth and neuroplasticity.
Although Affron has displayed significant promise as an individual ingredient, Lopresti notes that it could excel further when used in synergy with other natural ingredients:
“While there needs to be more research into the safety and efficacy of Affron alongside with other ingredients, it could be combined with other adaptogens and nutrients like ashwagandha, holy basil, B vitamins, omega-3s, curcumin and vitamin C to accentuate its effect,” he concludes.
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