Saffron Side Effects and Safety: Is Saffron Safe to Take Daily?

Saffron is safe for most healthy adults at the doses used in research, about 28 to 30mg of standardized extract a day. Across clinical trials lasting up to 12 weeks, side effects were mild and occurred at rates similar to placebo. The people who should be careful are those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, take antidepressants or certain other medications, or have bipolar disorder.

Before you add any supplement, it is smart to understand its safety. Here is an honest look at saffron's side effects, how much is safe, whether you can take it every day, and who should check with a doctor first.

Is saffron safe?

At supplement doses, yes. A toxicology review of saffron and its compounds concluded that therapeutic doses of saffron exhibit no significant toxicity in clinical or experimental studies. The clinical trials back that up:

• In healthy adults, 28mg a day of Affron® improved mood, stress, and anxiety without side effects over 4 weeks.
• In adults with poor sleep, saffron extract was well tolerated with no reported adverse effects over 28 days.
• In perimenopausal women, saffron was well tolerated with no major adverse events over 12 weeks.
• In post-menopausal women, adverse events with 30mg a day of saffron were no more frequent than with placebo.

Saffron side effects

When side effects are reported at normal doses, they tend to be mild and uncommon, such as slight stomach upset, a change in appetite, or a headache in a minority of people, and in the trials they occurred about as often as with placebo. Taking saffron with food can help if you have a sensitive stomach.

Saffron does not sedate you, which sets it apart from many calming supplements. It is studied for lifting mood, so drowsiness is not an expected side effect.

Is it safe to take saffron every day?

Yes, for most healthy adults. Daily use is exactly how the research was done: participants took saffron every day for 4 to 12 weeks. Saffron is also cleared from the body fairly quickly, which is why it is taken daily rather than building up; see how long saffron takes to work and stays in your system.

How much saffron is safe?

The mood research uses 28 to 30mg of standardized extract a day, and that range has a strong safety record. A different extract, Satiereal®, was given at 176.5mg a day for 8 weeks in a trial where no participant left the study because of the product. Concerns in the scientific literature center on very large amounts, far above supplement doses, which is why you should stick to the studied dose and never megadose. More in how much saffron per day.

Is 88.5mg of saffron safe?

That number usually comes from Life Extension's Optimized Saffron, which contains 88.25mg of Satiereal® per capsule, taken twice a day. That matches the 176.5mg daily dose used in the Satiereal trial, where it was well tolerated over 8 weeks. Keep in mind it is a different extract, studied for snacking rather than mood; for mood, the research uses Affron® at 28 to 30mg.

Saffron and medications

Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs)

Saffron acts on serotonin, so combining it with an antidepressant carries a theoretical risk of too much serotonin activity. Saffron has been studied as an add-on to antidepressants, but under medical supervision: in one trial, 14mg of Affron® twice a day was added to adults' existing antidepressants for 8 weeks. If you take an antidepressant, only add saffron with your prescriber's approval, and never stop or change your medication on your own.

Other medications

Check with your doctor or pharmacist first if you take blood pressure medication, blood thinners, or sedatives, or if you have surgery coming up, as with most supplements.

Who should avoid saffron?

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women: avoid saffron supplements unless your provider approves. Large amounts of saffron are traditionally avoided in pregnancy.
• People with bipolar disorder: talk to your doctor first, since saffron acts on mood.
• Anyone on antidepressants or other prescription medication: check with your prescriber.
• Anyone with a known allergy to saffron or crocus plants.

Fake saffron is a real risk

Saffron is one of the most frequently adulterated spices, and cheap "saffron" can be dyed safflower or other fillers. That is a quality problem as much as a safety one. A standardized, branded extract like Affron® is tested for its active compounds, so you know what you are taking. See Affron vs regular saffron and what is Affron®.

The bottom line

At the studied 28 to 30mg dose, standardized saffron extract is safe and well tolerated for most healthy adults, with side effects similar to placebo in clinical trials, even with daily use for up to 12 weeks. Stick to the studied dose, choose a standardized extract, and check with your doctor first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have bipolar disorder, or take an antidepressant or other medication.

Frequently Asked Questions

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice; consult a healthcare provider for concerns about your health. You can also see the science behind Mood Mod.