Saffron supplements and blood sugar and fat levels
What it found
Saffron supplements may improve blood sugar and blood fat levels, but the evidence is not yet strong enough to be sure.
The authors say more high-quality studies are needed.
What they found
Studies in people and animals
Blood sugar measures
Seven of the included reviews looked at how saffron or crocin supplements affected blood sugar measures. Almost half of the articles reported significant effects on these measures.
Blood fat measures
Six of the included reviews looked at how saffron or crocin supplements affected blood fat measures. Almost half of the articles reported significant effects on these measures.
Other findings
Review quality
One of the eight reviews was rated average quality and seven were rated good quality, based on a standard checklist.
What the authors conclude
“Taken together, results suggest that saffron supplementation may improve glycemic and lipid profile parameters; however, further high-quality studies are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy of saffron on glycemic parameters and lipid profiles.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that, taken together, the results suggest saffron supplementation may improve glycemic and lipid profile parameters.
- They advise that further high-quality studies are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy of saffron on glycemic parameters and lipid profiles.
How it was done
Saffron is widely used as a herbal medicine, and earlier evidence has pointed to health benefits from taking it as a supplement.
The authors looked at previously published reviews on saffron supplements and blood sugar and blood fat measures. They searched several databases up to 2020 and found eight reviews that met their criteria, seven of which combined results from multiple studies.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is an overview of other reviews, not a new study in people.
- It cannot show whether saffron itself causes any changes in blood sugar or blood fats.
- The authors say more high-quality studies are needed before the clinical effects are confirmed.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Denmark; Deakin University, Australia
The paper
- Title
- The effect of saffron supplementation on glycemic parameters: An overview of systematic reviews
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sadigi B, Yarani R, Mirghafourvand M, et al (2022). The effect of saffron supplementation on glycemic parameters: An overview of systematic reviews. Phytotherapy research. doi:10.1002/ptr.7542PubMed 35778993DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error