Editor's Note
Saffron is the dried stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus, one of the most expensive spices in trade, and has been used in folk medicine and Ayurvedic health system as a sedative, expectorant, anti-asthma, and emmenagogue. Researchers here report the investigation of the sleep-enhancing effects of saffron supplementation in adults with unsatisfactory sleep. In this 28-day, 3-arm, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 120 adults with unsatisfactory sleep received either a placebo, 14 mg, or 28 mg of a standardized saffron extract (affron®). Outcome measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Diary (with sleep quality ratings as the primary outcome measure), Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire (ISQ), Profile of Mood States, Restorative Sleep Questionnaire, the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, and evening salivary melatonin and cortisol concentrations.
 
Saffron supplementation showed significant improvements in sleep quality ratings, mood ratings after awakening, the ISQ total score, and ISQ-insomnia classifications. Improvements in sleep were similar for the two saffron doses. Compared to the placebo, saffron supplementation was associated with increases in evening melatonin concentrations but did not affect cortisol levels. The authors conclude that this is further evidence of saffron extract’s sleep enhancing effect, and suggest further research to examine the efficacy and safety of saffron supplementation using objective sleep measures, over a longer duration, in people presenting with a diagnosed insomnia disorder. 
Abstract

Objective/background
To validate and extend on previous positive findings of the sleep-enhancing effects of saffron supplementation in adults with unsatisfactory sleep.

Patients/methods
In this 28-day, 3-arm, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised controlled trial, 120 adults with unsatisfactory sleep received either a placebo, 14 mg, or 28 mg of a standardised saffron extract (affron®), 1 h before bed. Outcome measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Diary (with sleep quality ratings as the primary outcome measure), Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire (ISQ), Profile of Mood States, Restorative Sleep Questionnaire, the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, and evening salivary melatonin and cortisol concentrations.

Results
Compared to the placebo, saffron supplementation was associated with greater improvements in sleep quality ratings (primary outcome measure), mood ratings after awakening, the ISQ total score, and ISQ-insomnia classifications. However, there were no significant differences between the saffron and placebo groups in other questionnaire and sleep diary outcome measures. Sleep improvements were similar for the two administered saffron doses. Compared to the placebo, saffron supplementation was associated with increases in evening melatonin concentrations but did not affect evening cortisol. Saffron supplementation was well-tolerated with no reported significant adverse effects.

Conclusions
These results provide further validation of the sleep-enhancing effects of 28-days of saffron supplementation in adults with unsatisfactory sleep. Further research is required to examine the efficacy and safety of saffron supplementation using objective sleep measures, over a longer duration, in people presenting with a diagnosed insomnia disorder and other psychogenic and demographic characteristics, and into its potential sleep-enhancing mechanisms of action.
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