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affron

affron

Best for

Lift your overall mood

Large effect, needs confirmation 28–30 mg/day 6–8 weeks 2 studies, n=118 #3 of 18 studied

  • 47 papers
  • 15 of 104 outcomes
  • 12 positive
  • 3 severe

Affron provides a likely strong benefit for premenstrual symptoms and nighttime waking in adults, while findings for depression, anxiety, sexual desire, and insomnia are smaller or remain uncertain.

Risk, worst reported severity

  • angina severe
  • COVID-19 severe
All 8 events and interactions

What affron actually does

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Time Rank
Strong benefits 1
Lose weight Likely strong benefit Weight loss means carrying less total body weight over time.
large 		1 meta-analysis 6 papers · n=514 — 7–12 wk #4 /72
Clear benefits 2
Fewer PMS symptoms Proven benefit PMS can bring physical and emotional symptoms in the days before a period.
moderate 		1 meta-analysis 2 papers · n=692 28–90 mg 4–10 wk #1 /10
Stay asleep through the night Likely benefit Uninterrupted sleep helps the night feel more settled and restorative.
moderate 		1 meta-analysis 3 papers · n=353 — 5–6 wk #2 /15
Modest benefits 3
Feel more sexual desire Likely modest benefit Sexual desire and arousal can make intimacy feel more wanted and engaging.
small 		1 meta-analysis 4 papers · n=315 30–400 mg 1–6 wk #6 /9
Ease depression symptoms Likely real but unnoticeable Depression can bring persistent low mood and loss of interest in daily life.
trivial 		6 meta-analyses 12 papers · n=18k — 4–48 wk #4 /36
Reduce insomnia symptoms Likely real but unnoticeable Less severe insomnia can mean fewer nights spent struggling with sleep.
trivial 		1 meta-analysis 3 papers · n=340 — 4–5 wk #3 /13
Worth watching 3
Lift your overall mood Large effect, needs confirmation Mood shapes how positive, calm, and engaged a person feels from day to day.
large 		2 RCTs 2 papers · n=118 28–30 mg 6–8 wk #3 /18
Lose body fat Large effect, needs confirmation Body fat loss changes the proportion of your body that is fat tissue.
large 		2 RCTs 2 papers · n=38 200–400 mg 8–12 wk #2 /41
Get more sleep each night Promising early signal More time asleep can help you meet the amount of sleep you need.
moderate 		2 RCTs 2 papers · n=120 15.5–28 mg 6 wk #7 /9
Early research 6
Feel fuller and curb cravings Faint early signal Appetite control can help eating feel more manageable when hunger or cravings get in the way.
small 		1 meta-analysis 2 papers · n=479 15–100 mg 6 wk #9 /44
Feel less stressed day to day Faint early signal Daily stress is the sense that life's demands are stretching beyond what you can handle.
small 		3 RCTs 3 papers · n=122 20–30 mg 4–8 wk #10 /28
Sleep that feels more restorative Barely detectable Sleep quality reflects whether the night leaves you feeling well rested.
trivial 		1 meta-analysis 4 papers · n=467 — 4–6 wk —
Fall asleep sooner Not enough research A shorter wait for sleep can make bedtime feel less frustrating.
trivial 		1 meta-analysis 2 papers · n=249 — 5–6 wk #7 /20
Feel less anxious Not enough research Anxiety can bring persistent worry, unease, and physical tension into ordinary moments.
trivial 		1 meta-analysis 3 papers · n=191 — 1–5 wk —
See more clearly Not enough research Clear vision helps a person read detail, recognize faces, and navigate everyday tasks.
— 		1 RCT 1 papers · n=— 20 mg 26 wk —

Effect tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.

Protocol

Dose, timing & forms

How much

For PMS, the clearest protocol used 30 mg daily of saffron extract, split into two doses, through two menstrual cycles.1 Affron sleep research also uses a low daily amount of standardized extract for several weeks, rather than culinary saffron or a one-night dose.4 Weight-focused studies span an unusually wide range of saffron products and doses, so the strong weight signal does not justify assuming that any affron dose delivers the same result.3

When and how long

Consistency matters more than finding a magic hour. The PMS protocol divided the daily amount into morning and evening doses, while sleep research built the supplement into a daily routine over weeks.14 If you are trying it for sleep, follow the product directions and give the routine time before judging it, since the trial outcome focused on night-to-night sleep patterns rather than an immediate knockout effect.4

Forms & standardisation

Look for an affron product that names the standardized saffron extract and clearly lists the amount per daily serving. This matters because saffron research includes different extracts and preparations, and a result from one preparation does not automatically carry over to culinary saffron powder or an unlabeled blend.34 The strongest affron-specific sleep evidence comes from the standardized extract, not from saffron tea or cooking spice.4

Adverse events and drug interactions

Safety events

angina severe
COVID-19 severe
diverticulitis severe
headache mild
nausea mild
decreased appetite mild
increased appetite mild
sedation mild
Buy well

Recommended affron products

Real products that dose affron where the research does, in a clean formulation, from brands we've audited. We only list ones we'd stand behind.

Chosen for adequate affron dosing vs. the studied range, a clean formulation (grade A–C), and independent brand-quality audits. Not sponsored.

In context

What this is and how it works

  • Across 6 studies (n=514), affron improved weight-related movement outcomes; a points-based MCID was not reported.3
  • The evidence review spans 47 papers and 104 outcomes, with strongest signals for PMS symptoms and sleep quality.1
  • Findings for depression, anxiety, sexual desire, and insomnia are smaller or remain uncertain.

Affron is a branded extract from saffron, the crimson threads harvested from the Crocus sativus flower. Those threads are famously expensive in the kitchen, but the clinical products use a measured extract so each capsule delivers a consistent amount of saffron compounds.4

Saffron contains crocins and safranal, compounds that appear to influence serotonin-related signaling, one of the brain's message systems for mood, appetite, and sleep. Think of that system as a group chat between brain cells: saffron seems to make the messages easier to pass along, rather than acting like a sedative switch.5 Human trials show changes in symptoms, but they do not yet pin down one proven mechanism for every benefit.24

Bottom line

Affron is a sensible option if PMS symptoms or frequent nighttime waking are your main target and you want a low-dose saffron extract with human trial support.14 Keep expectations modest for depression, insomnia, sexual desire, and anxiety, where effects look small or the findings remain uncertain.25 Skip self-experimenting if you have a serious medical condition or take medicines that need interaction review, and discuss it with a clinician first.

Frequently asked

Common questions

What is affron?

Affron is a branded, standardized extract of saffron stigma, the red thread-like part of the Crocus sativus flower. Its research uses small daily amounts of concentrated extract, not culinary saffron sprinkled into food.4

Does affron help with PMS?

Yes. A placebo-controlled trial found that saffron improved overall PMS symptoms across two menstrual cycles, with the clearest evidence at a standardized 30 mg daily dose.1

Does affron improve sleep?

Affron shows a meaningful benefit for staying asleep, while its effects on falling asleep and total sleep time remain smaller or less certain. The sleep trial tested a daily standardized extract in adults who already reported poor sleep.4

Can affron help with weight loss?

The reviewed weight findings are encouraging, but the tested doses and products vary dramatically. Do not treat affron as a shortcut: food intake, activity, sleep, and health context still drive most real-world weight change.3

How long does affron take to work?

The PMS trial followed participants across two cycles, while the sleep study tracked daily use over several weeks. It is a daily supplement, not an occasional rescue product.14

Sources

Sources

  1. 1. Saffron in the treatment of patients with premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial (2008) ↑
  2. 2. Saffron in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial (2005) ↑
  3. 3. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a saffron extract in the treatment of overweight women (2010) ↑
  4. 4. The Effects of a Saffron Extract (affron) on Sleep Quality in Healthy Adults With Self-Reported Poor Sleep: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (2021)
  5. 5. Saffron (Crocus sativus) in the treatment of depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2014) ↑

Generated August 27, 2026

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