Does saffron help with weight loss and appetite?

Not on the scale. A meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials of saffron supplements in overweight and obese adults found a weight difference of 0.71 lb (0.32 kg) against control, with a confidence interval running from 6.9 lb (3.15 kg) lost to 5.5 lb (2.51 kg) gained, which is no detectable effect. A 2022 analysis of 12 trials in 841 people found 0.26 lb (0.12 kg), also not significant, and rated that evidence very low quality. The appetite claim rests on a few small trials of extracts in capsules, and they disagree with each other.

Myth. Saffron supplements do not make people lighter in the trials that have tested them. Three separate meta-analyses looked for a change in body weight or BMI, and none found one.

What the trials found

Weight and BMI

The 25-trial meta-analysis found no significant change in weight, BMI, waist or hip size. The only measure that moved was the ratio of waist to hip, a standardized difference of 0.41. The trials differed a lot from one another. The 2022 dose-response analysis covered 12 trials for weight and found no difference in weight, BMI or the share of body fat. A 2025 meta-analysis of 25 trials in 1486 people with metabolic syndrome found that saffron lowered blood sugar and blood pressure, and did not change BMI or waist size.

Waist size

Unsettled. Whether saffron trims the waist is open. The 2022 analysis found 0.59 in (1.50 cm) across 15 trials (95% CI 0.07 to 1.1 in (0.18 to 2.83 cm)), but the trials disagreed with each other a great deal, and the authors graded the waist evidence very low quality. A 2020 meta-analysis of 9 trials in 595 people found 0.86 in (95% CI 0.13 to 1.6; metric: 2.18 cm, 0.32 to 4.05), and weight was not its outcome. The 25-trial review and the 2025 review in metabolic syndrome found no change in waist. Very low certainty means the true effect may differ substantially from these estimates.

Appetite and snacking

The appetite claim comes mainly from one 8-week trial of a branded extract, Satiereal, at 176.5 mg a day, in 60 mildly overweight women who ate as they liked. They snacked less often and lost more weight than the placebo group. The abstract does not say how much more, the extract is a commercial product, and we could not get the full text. Nobody has repeated it.

In 84 people with coronary artery disease, 30 mg a day of a saffron extract for 8 weeks reduced hunger more than crocin, a pigment taken from saffron, and weight loss was 3 lb (1.37 kg) greater (95% CI 1.3 to 4.8 lb (0.57 to 2.17 kg)). That comparison is with crocin, and the paper's head-to-head numbers against placebo are not on our card, so this trial does not show saffron beating a dummy pill on weight.

Two other trials pointed the other way. In 73 overweight women with mild to moderate depression, 30 mg a day for 12 weeks did not reduce food craving against placebo, although depression scores fell. Twenty-one of the 73 dropped out. In 75 overweight or obese adults with prediabetes, 15 mg a day for 8 weeks improved blood sugar and did not change body measurements.

Who should be careful

In the short trials pooled in 2022, most studies reported no specific side effects. Some reported drowsiness, headache, dry mouth, stomach pain, constipation or, of note on this page, increased appetite. Side effects were not collected in a systematic way, and the trials lasted weeks, so long-term safety is unknown. Across 9 trials, saffron did not change kidney markers, with creatinine shifting by 0.006 mg/dL against placebo.

Not for everyone. A 64-year-old man taking the blood thinner rivaroxaban developed nosebleeds and bleeding gums after starting a saffron supplement. That is one case, and it does not prove saffron caused it. If you take an anticoagulant, ask the person who prescribes it before adding saffron capsules.

Not for everyone. In pregnancy, a 2026 review of studies of mixed design found no harm from 250 to 750 mg of saffron at term, while higher doses and working in saffron fields were linked to more miscarriages. The review does not put a number on what counts as a high dose. That is reason enough to leave weight-loss capsules out of pregnancy.

In a 7-day study in healthy volunteers, 400 mg of saffron tablets a day lowered blood pressure and 200 mg did not. The product itself is a separate problem. A review of 23 studies estimated that 20 to 30 percent of commercial saffron is adulterated, from 3.5 percent in regulated EU markets to 60 per cent in India, sometimes with dyes such as Sudan compounds. Those estimates come from different methods and regions.

What expert bodies say

We found no agency position on saffron for weight or appetite. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has no current saffron page, the Office of Dietary Supplements has no fact sheet, and the European Medicines Agency has not assessed saffron. Neither the EU nor the US has a weight or satiety claim for it. The one saffron entry in the EU health claims register is a mood claim for the branded extract Affron, and it was not authorized. A refusal means the evidence fell short when it was assessed, which is different from proof that the extract does nothing.

How we searched

What would change this answer

• A large independent trial with body weight as its main outcome, running longer than the 8 to 12 weeks of the trials here. The local copy of ClinicalTrials.gov lists none.
• A repeat of the Satiereal snacking trial by researchers with no link to the product, with the size of the weight change published.
• Saffron against placebo on hunger, reported in full, in people without heart disease or depression.

Saffron as a spice, its nutrients per teaspoon and the trials on mood and sleep are on the saffron page.

Sources

1. ev-safw-01 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (PRISMA) · n = 25 RCTs
   Meta-analysis showed a nonsignificant decrease for weight (-0.32 kg; CI: -3.15, 2.51; p = 0.82), BMI (-0.06 kg/m2 ;CI:-1.04,0.93; p = .91), waist circumference (-1.23 cm; CI: -4.14, 1.68; p = .41), and hip circumference (-0.38 cm; CI: -5.99, 5.23; p = .89) and a significant decrease of waist-to-hip ratio (SMD = -0.41; CI: -0.73, -0.09; p = .01; I2 = 0%).
   
   Who: overweight and obese patients in randomized controlled trials of saffron
   Effect: weight -0.71 lb (95% CI -6.9 to 5.5; metric: -0.32 kg, -3.15 to 2.51), p = 0.82; BMI -0.06 kg/m2; waist -0.48 in (95% CI -1.6 to 0.66; metric: -1.23 cm, -4.14 to 1.68); waist-to-hip ratio SMD -0.41 (95% CI -0.73 to -0.09)
   Certainty: Heterogeneous trials; the only significant anthropometric change was waist-to-hip ratio.
   Phytother Res, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
2. ev-safw-02 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n = 12 trials, 841 participants (weight); 15 trials, 884 participants (waist)
   Changes in body weight, BMI, WC, and FM% were assessed in 12 (13 effect sizes) (41, 44, 48–50, 52, 55, 57, 58, 60, 68, 69) with 841 participants (IG = 425, CG = 416), 11 (12 effect sizes) with 785 participants (IG = 396, CG = 389) (44, 48–50, 52, 57, 58, 60, 63, 68, 69), 15 (7 effect sizes) with 884 participants (IG = 447, CG = 437) (41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 57, 60, 68, 69), and 4 (5 effect sizes) (41, 49, 57, 68) trials with 100 participants (IG = 50, CG = 50), respectively. Overall, we observed no significantly different change in weight (WMD = −0.12 kg, 95%CI: −0.82, 0.58; P = 0.732; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.995; Figure 2N), BMI (WMD = 0.01 kg/m2, 95%CI: −0.17, 0.21; P = 0.853; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.809; Figure 2O), and FM% (WMD = −0.57%, 95%CI: −1.57, 0.42; P = 0.262; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.599; Figure 2Q) between the intervention and control groups. However, pooled effect sizes showed a substantial decrease in WC after saffron consumption (WMD = −1.50 cm; 95%CI: −2.83, −0.18; P = 0.026; I2 = 71.06%, P < 0.001; Figure 2P).
   
   Who: adults in randomized placebo-controlled trials of saffron or crocin
   Effect: weight WMD -0.26 lb (95% CI -1.8 to 1.3; metric: -0.12 kg, -0.82 to 0.58); BMI WMD 0.01 kg/m2 (95% CI -0.17 to 0.21); fat mass % WMD -0.57 (95% CI -1.57 to 0.42); waist WMD -0.59 in (95% CI -1.1 to -0.07; metric: -1.50 cm, -2.83 to -0.18), I2 71%
   Certainty: Waist result heterogeneous (I2 71%); GRADE very low for weight and waist.
   Front Nutr, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the fulltext
3. ev-safw-03 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, GRADE assessment · n = 32 studies
   For TG, TC, LDL, FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, SBP, weight, WC, MDA, TAC, and ALT, the quality of the evidence was very low. Additionally, the HDL, DBP, CRP, IL-6, TNF-, BMI, FM%, and AST evidence quality was low.
   
   Who: adults in randomized placebo-controlled trials of saffron or crocin
   Effect: GRADE very low for weight and waist circumference; low for BMI and fat mass
   Certainty: Very low certainty means the true effect may differ substantially from the estimate.
   Front Nutr, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the fulltext
4. ev-safw-04 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n = 32 studies
   Most studies did not report specific side effects, but some side effects such as dry mouth, restlessness, anxiety, daily drowsiness, morning drowsiness (42), constipation, polydipsia, headache (17, 50), increased appetite, feet swelling, stomach ache, subconjunctival-hemorrhage, swelling, redness, and burning of the eyes (54), stomach pain (65), were reported in some studies.
   
   Who: adults in randomized placebo-controlled trials of saffron or crocin
   Effect: side effects reported in some trials: dry mouth, restlessness, anxiety, drowsiness, constipation, headache, increased appetite, feet swelling, stomach ache, subconjunctival hemorrhage, eye irritation
   Certainty: Adverse events were not pooled or systematically collected; trials were short (weeks), so long-term safety is unknown.
   Front Nutr, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the fulltext
5. ev-safw-05 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials · n = 9 articles, 12 arms, 595 participants
   Our study found WC was significantly reduced (WMD: -2.18 cm, 95 % CI: -4.05, -0.32) and FPG (WMD: -6.54 mg/dl, 95 % CI: -10.22, -2.85) following saffron intervention.
   
   Who: participants in randomized clinical trials of saffron up to February 2019
   Effect: waist circumference WMD -0.86 in (95% CI -1.6 to -0.13; metric: -2.18 cm, -4.05 to -0.32); fasting glucose WMD -6.54 mg/dL
   Certainty: Small pooled sample; body weight itself was not the outcome of this meta-analysis.
   Complement Ther Med, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
6. ev-safw-06 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n = 25 RCTs, 1486 participants
   However, no significant changes were observed for homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC).
   
   Who: patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders
   Effect: no significant change in BMI or waist circumference; FBG WMD -6.67 mg/dL
   Certainty: Effect sizes for BMI and waist not given in the abstract; full text not in PMC.
   Phytother Res, 2025 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
7. ev-safw-07 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial · n = 60
   Twice a day, enrolled subjects consumed 1 capsule of Satiereal (176.5 mg extract per day (n = 31) or a matching placebo (n = 29). Caloric intake was left unrestricted during the study. At baseline, both groups were homogeneous for age, body weight, and snacking frequency. Satiereal caused a significantly greater body weight reduction than placebo after 8 weeks (P < .01). The mean snacking frequency was significantly decreased in the Satiereal group as compared with the placebo group (P < .05).
   
   Who: healthy, mildly overweight women, 8 weeks, unrestricted calorie intake
   Effect: greater body weight reduction than placebo (P < .01); snacking frequency lower (P < .05); size of weight change not given in the abstract
   Certainty: Single trial of a branded commercial extract; weight difference not quantified in the abstract; full text not available (no_pmc).
   Nutr Res, 2010 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
8. ev-safw-08 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized double-blind placebo-controlled three-arm trial · n = 84 randomized, 75 completed
   Weight loss was significantly higher in SAE group in comparison to crocin group (MD= -1.37, CI: -2.173 to -0.571, P < 0.001). ... Feeling of hunger in SAE group decreased significantly compared to crocin group (MD= -2.384, CI: -4.229 to -0.539, P = 0.007).
   
   Who: patients with coronary artery disease aged 40 to 65, 8 weeks, 30 mg saffron aqueous extract or 30 mg crocin or placebo daily
   Effect: weight loss saffron extract vs crocin MD -3 lb (95% CI -4.8 to -1.3; metric: -1.37 kg, -2.173 to -0.571); hunger saffron extract vs crocin MD -2.384 (95% CI -4.229 to -0.539)
   Certainty: Small arms (about 25 each); the weight comparison reported is saffron vs crocin, not saffron vs placebo; appetite by visual analog scale.
   Abedimanesh et al., Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research, 2017 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the fulltext
9. ev-safw-09 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial · n = 73 randomized, 52 completed
   There was not a significant effect of saffron on food craving using repeated-measures ANOVA, F(1, 29) = 0.38, P = .54.
   
   Who: women with BMI 25 or more and mild-to-moderate depression, 12 weeks, 30 mg Crocus sativus daily
   Effect: no significant effect on food craving, F(1, 29) = 0.38, P = .54; depression scores fell more than placebo
   Certainty: High dropout (21 of 73); weight result not reported in the abstract.
   J Clin Pharm Ther, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
10. ev-safw-10 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial · n = 75 completed (36 saffron, 39 placebo)
    However, no significant changes in anthropometric measures, lipid profile, and renal markers were observed after saffron intake compared with placebo.
    
    Who: overweight/obese individuals with prediabetes, 8 weeks, saffron 15 mg/d
    Effect: FBS -7.97 mg/dL and HbA1c -0.15% vs placebo; no significant change in anthropometric measures
    Certainty: Low dose and short duration; anthropometric numbers not given in the abstract.
    Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2019 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
11. sfrn-daily-r7-05 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · meta-analysis of RCTs · n = 9 RCTs
    The pooled analysis showed that saffron supplementation had no significant effect on serum urea concentrations (WMD: - 1.05 mg/dl; 95% CI - 5.1 to 3; P = 0.6, I2 = 93%, P < 0.001) and serum creatinine levels (WMD: - 0.006 mg/dl; 95% CI - 0.08 to 0.06; P = 0.8, I2 = 79%, P < 0.001) when compared to the placebo group.
    
    Who: adults in 9 RCTs
    Effect: serum urea WMD -1.05 mg/dL (95% CI -5.1 to 3), creatinine WMD -0.006 mg/dL (-0.08 to 0.06), both not significant
    Certainty: short RCTs; safety with long-term intake not assessed
    Int Urol Nephrol, 2022 · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the abstract
12. sfrn-daily-r7-07 · Position of an expert body · regulatory decision · n = —
    POL-HC-08742 Affron®, aqueous saffron extract, with the sum of crocins and safranal concentration > 3,5 % and dextrin as inert carrier Affron® contributes to maintain a healthy mood by reducing the negative traits of depressive and anxiety feelings -/- Non-authorised
    
    Who: EU health claim application, Affron aqueous saffron extract
    Effect: status Non-authorized
    Certainty: refusal = the evidence did not reach the bar at the time of assessment, not 'has no effect'; the reason is in the EFSA opinion
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-08742, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the dataset
13. sfrn-daily-r7-08 · Laboratory or animal data · case series · n = 1
    We herein present the case of a 64-year old male with the complaint of acute onset epistaxis and bleeding gums following the concomitant use of rivaroxaban and saffron supplement.
    
    Who: one 64-year-old man taking rivaroxaban
    Effect: acute epistaxis and gum bleeding
    Certainty: K-143: one case, before decision D; causality not established
    Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets, 2022 · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the abstract
14. sfrn-daily-r7-10 · Observational data · systematic review of analytical studies · n = 23 studies
    Findings reveal that 20-30% of commercial saffron is adulterated globally, though with significant regional disparities (e.g., 3.5% in regulated EU markets vs. 60% in India), driven by economic incentives and regulatory gaps. Common fraudulent practices include substitution with safflower, marigold, or turmeric; dilution with extraneous plant materials; and the addition of hazardous synthetic dyes such as Sudan compounds and auramine-O.
    
    Who: commercial saffron samples, 23 studies 2015-2025
    Effect: 20-30% adulterated globally; 3.5% EU vs 60% India; substitutes safflower, marigold, turmeric; Sudan dyes, auramine-O
    Certainty: frequency estimates from different methods and regions
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the abstract
15. sfrn-daily-r7-12 · Observational data · integrative review · n = 12 studies
    Within clinical trials, low dosage of saffron (approximately 250 to 750 milligrams at term) showed no incident of negative maternal or neonatal outcome, which significantly translates into its enhanced tolerance in controlled clinical settings, particularly for low-risk, term pregnancies.26,32 These findings were notably contradicted across studies, which reported that saffron's consumption in higher dosages or being occupationally exposed in saffron fields increases critical pregnancy-associated risks. Studies focused on women farmers in saffron fields noted elevated risk for miscarriage, particularly due to longer dermal or inhalational exposure.
    
    Who: pregnant women, 12 studies from inception to June 2025
    Effect: low dose at term without adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes; higher dose or occupational exposure with elevated miscarriage risk
    Certainty: review of mixed designs; the "high dose" threshold is not quantitative; the first trimester is the riskiest
    Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the fulltext
16. sfrn-daily-r7-13 · Laboratory or animal data · narrative toxicology review · n = —
    Previously, we examined the safety of saffron tablet (200 and 400 mg) in healthy volunteers who received tablets for 7 days. ... Our clinical findings revealed that mean arterial pressures and standing systolic blood pressure were decreased in persons who received 400 mg tablets (but not 200 mg saffron tablet) (36). We didn’t observe significant toxicity on hematological parameters.
    
    Who: healthy volunteers, saffron tablets 200 or 400 mg daily for 7 days
    Effect: mean arterial and standing systolic pressure decreased at 400 mg; no significant hematological toxicity
    Certainty: review by the authors of their own RCT; no number of participants in this fragment
    Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 2017 · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the fulltext