Oral Presentation ANZOS-ASLM-ICCR 2019

Saffron improves glycemic status, lipid profile, liver function and quality of life in overweight/obese diabetic patients: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (#65)

Aynaz Seyed Tajaddini 1 , Margaret J Morris 1 , Alireza Ostadrahimi 2 , Majid Mobasseri 2 , Neda Roshanravan 2 , Michael D Kendig 1 , Aydin Aeinehchi 2 , Pouria Sefid-Mooye Azar 2
  1. UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Aims/hypothesis:

Obesity is the most common low-grade inflammatory disease worldwide and plays a direct role in the recent enhanced incidence of diabetes. As some beneficial effects of saffron have been reported in obesity, the current study investigated the effects of saffron supplementation on dietary intake, anthropometric measures, mood, sleep quality and metabolic biomarkers in overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 60 overweight (BMI 25-35 kg/m2) patients with type 2 diabetes (30-60 years) were randomly allocated to receive 100 mg/day saffron or placebo for 8 weeks. Dietary intake, anthropometric measures, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1C, insulin, lipid profile and liver enzymes were determined at baseline and at 8 weeks. Participants completed the Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Diabetes-specific Quality-of-Life (DQOL) questionnaires.

Results:

At 8 weeks, saffron supplementation significantly decreased FPG (-5.4%), HbA1c (-3.9%), triglyceride (-15%), with modest reductions in liver enzymes; AST (-3.1%), ALT (-4.6%), (p<0.05). No effect of saffron was observed on dietary intake or body weight. Significant improvements in BDI-II scores and total quality of life were observed in the intervention group (p<0.001). The saffron group showed greater improvements in PSQI scores than placebo group, such that post-intervention only the saffron group achieved “good” sleep band (global PSQI score <5). These results held after adjustment for age, sex, and disease duration.

Conclusion:

At this relatively high dose, saffron supplementation for 8 weeks improved glycemic status, lipid profile and liver enzyme measures in overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes, while also improving sleep and overall quality of life. Further investigation is necessary to examine the mechanisms for these effects and to confirm whether saffron is an effective complementary therapy for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

 

  1. Mashmoul M, Azlan A, Yusof BNM, Khaza'ai H, Mohtarrudin N, Boroushaki MT (2014) Effects of saffron extract and crocin on anthropometrical, nutritional and lipid profile parameters of rats fed a high fat diet. J Funct Foods 8: 180-187.
  2. Azimi P, Ghiasvand R, Feizi A, Hariri M, Abbasi B (2014) Effects of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, and ginger consumption on markers of glycemic control, lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammation in type 2 diabetes patients. Rev Diabet Stud 11(3): 258-265.