Saffron supplementation effective adjunct therapy for prevention of CVD

The meta-analysis showed that saffron effectively improved total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), HbA1c, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), waist circumference (WC), CRP, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and alanine transferase (ALT). "

"Saffron appears to be an appropriate supplement and adjunct therapy along with other conventional medicine used for the prevention and alleviation of CVD risk factors," Mohammad Zamani from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, and colleagues wrote.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the frontrunners for death and disability in the world and is estimated to involve more people in the upcoming years. Research has suggested that alternative remedies, such as herbs, can be used for managing CVD complications. Considering this, Dr. Zamani and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis to systematically assess and summarize the effects of saffron supplementation as a vital herb on CV risk factors in adults.

For this purpose, the researchers systematically searched online databases to find eligible articles up to September 2022. They included RCTs (randomized controlled trials) that assessed the effects of saffron on glycemic control, lipid profiles, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers. A total of 32 studies comprising 1674 patients were considered in the meta-analysis.

The study led to the following findings:

• Consumption of saffron significantly decreased triglyceride (WMD = -8.81 mg/dl), total cholesterol (WMD = -6.87 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein (WMD = -6.71 mg/dl), fasting blood glucose level (WMD = -7.59 mg/dl), HbA1c (WMD = -0.18%), HOMA-IR (WMD = -0.49), systolic blood pressure (WMD = -3.42 mmHg), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (WMD = -2.54 pg/ml), waist circumference (WMD = -1.50 cm), malondialdehyde (WMD = -1.50 uM/L), and alanine transferase (WMD = -2.16 U/L).
• The authors observed that saffron increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (WMD = 0.07 mM/L).
• There was linear regression between FBG and the duration of saffron intake. The non-linear dose-response analysis has also shown a significant association of saffron intervention with HDL, HOMA-IR, weight, ALP, FBG, HbA1c, and TNF-α.
• A non-linear association between the length of the intervention and the level of HDL and DBP was also found.

"The study revealed the beneficial effects of saffron on CV risk factors, including TC, TG, HbA1c, FBG, SBP, HOMA-IR, TNF-α, CRP, WC, TAC, MDA, and ALT," the authors wrote. "The non-linear dose-response analysis demonstrated a significant association between dose for saffron intake with HOMA-IR, HDL, weight, FBG, TNF-α, HbA1c, and ALP." It showed between the supplementation duration, HDL level, and diastolic blood pressure.

"The findings imply that saffron seems to be a suitable supplement and adjunct therapy along with other conventional medicine used for prevention of CVD risk factors," the authors concluded.

Reference:

Zamani, Mohammad, et al. "The Effects of Saffron Supplementation On Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults: a Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis." Frontiers in Nutrition, vol. 9, 2022, p. 1055517.