Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
Saffron
Selected research topic
Stress and mood
Some measured outcomes improved in human comparison studies. Read these findings with their populations and conditions.
Some findings concern patients or people with a deficiency.
- Publications for this topic
- 18
- Human comparison publications
- 4
- Publications needing review
- 12
Findings in the studies
depression scores
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.Patient group · Single ingredient · 12 weeks
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: saffron capsules versus placebo
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- 12 weeks
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 depression score
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Patient group · Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Patient group · Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
POMS Total Mood Disturbance scale
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
Other measured outcomes (2)
depressive symptoms
Research with unclear study subject or type
- Results for this measurement were mixed; no consistent conclusion can be drawn.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Meta-analysis
- Study population
- Recorded population category: Patient group. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
Oxidative Stress
Research with unclear study subject or type
- A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.Single ingredient
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Systematic review
- Study population
- Recorded population category: Patient group. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (7)
- antidepressant · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- depressive and anxious symptoms · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
- depressive symptom severity · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS-A) · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-D) · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.
Representative outcome and study details
Partial research summary
Studies with an unspecified organism reported mixed results for depressive symptoms.
These conditions come from related studies and may not describe a single paper.
Single-ingredient studies · Includes patient groups · between-group comparison
2 publications linked to this result (1 awaiting review included)
- Study conditions differ; results are shown descriptively and are not pooled.
- Some publications have not cleared source or interpretation review.
- Some papers could not be reviewed, so this summary covers only findings that could be confirmed.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: C
The 39.7 evidence score includes 1 independent human studies and 1 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The C tier remains conservative because of limited repetition across independent human clinical studies, too few clinical findings with an explicit effect direction.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 97
Papers linked to this topic 18 · distinct papers 18 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 4 · papers needing additional review 12
A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- antidepressant: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- depression scores: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 depression score: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- depressive and anxious symptoms: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- depressive symptom severity: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- depressive symptoms: Sources represented in this measurement group: 2 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS-A): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Hamilton Depression Rating Scale: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-D): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Oxidative Stress: Sources represented in this measurement group: 2 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- POMS Total Mood Disturbance scale: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
What the research found
depression scores
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 depression score
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
POMS Total Mood Disturbance scale
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
depressive symptoms
Results for this measurement were mixed; no consistent conclusion can be drawn.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Oxidative Stress
A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
Review · Single ingredient · Patient group
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
antidepressant
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Unknown intervention · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
depressive and anxious symptoms
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Separable contribution · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
depressive symptom severity
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Unknown intervention · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
depressive symptoms
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS-A)
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-D)
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
oxidative stress
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Ingredient combination · Patient group
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
2 papers · 2 measured outcomes
2 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Unknown intervention · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Unknown intervention · Patient group
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
No combination cautions are available to show in the current data. This does not guarantee safety.
Side effects and combination studies
No side-effect or combination findings are available to show from the collected papers. This does not establish safety.