Saffron Extract Supports Mood and Self-Esteem in Menopausal Women

In a 12-week randomized controlled trial, nearly half of menopausal and post-menopausal women taking 28 mg of saffron extract daily met the responder threshold for improved mood, almost twice the placebo rate, alongside gains in self-esteem and sleep.

A low-dose saffron extract may support mood, sleep, and self-esteem in menopausal and post-menopausal women, according to a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Researchers describe it as the first study to observe a combined positive effect across these three often interconnected concerns.

The study, published in the June 2026 issue of Frontiers in Nutrition, enrolled 86 women aged 50 to 70 experiencing low mood and poor sleep. Participants received either 28 mg of saffron extract daily or an identical-looking placebo for 12 weeks, completing validated self-report questionnaires on mood, sleep, self-esteem, and physical appearance before, during, and after the program.

What saffron extract is

Saffron is the spice obtained from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower. The extract used in the trial is a concentrated form standardized to at least 3.5% Lepticrosalides, a complex of safranal and crocins, the compounds associated with saffron’s effects on mood and sleep. It is used in dietary supplements and functional foods.

Following 12 weeks of supplementation, nearly half of the women taking saffron met the study’s responder criteria for improvement on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, Depression Subscale (DASS-D), almost double the 25.6% responder rate seen with placebo, with improvements starting to appear after four weeks. The saffron group recorded a 50.7% overall reduction in low-mood scores, compared with 31.9% for placebo.

Beyond the primary mood outcome, women taking saffron showed a 10% improvement on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, versus 4.8% for placebo, although the researchers framed self-esteem as an exploratory outcome. That change appeared more closely aligned with mood and daily well-being than with physical appearance. Sleep was assessed using the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment scales.

Menopause and the years that follow are associated with heightened vulnerability to mood disturbances, disrupted sleep, and shifts in self-perception, concerns that tend to occur together but are usually addressed separately. For product developers, an ingredient with human data spanning all three at a low dose is relevant to products aimed at postmenopausal women, healthy aging, and emotional well-being, where clinical substantiation increasingly drives claims.

“This is the first clinical trial showing that Affron® can positively impact three closely connected aspects of well-being: mood, self-esteem, and the daily impact of poor sleep. The findings reinforce the need for holistic approaches to emotional well-being, and in addition positions Affron® at the intersection of emotional well-being, healthy aging, and beauty-from-within solutions.”

The company linked the broader emotional benefits to saffron’s mechanisms of action. Previous research has associated increased inflammation with lower self-esteem in people with obesity and metabolic syndrome, and because menopause also involves inflammatory and metabolic changes, the firm suggested this may offer a biological context for the self-esteem findings. Saffron is reported to have anti-inflammatory activity, to help modulate serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, to raise production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a regulator of emotional adaptability, and to protect brain cells from oxidative stress through its antioxidant capacity. Those pathways place it alongside other botanicals studied for stress and sleep.

“The findings of this study suggest Affron® could support self-esteem through both psychological and physiological pathways. Psychologically, there is a direct link between how we feel and how we perceive ourselves. By effectively reducing low mood and enhancing emotional balance, Affron® might help women feel more confident and positive. On a physical level Affron® may balance key neurotransmitters and lower stress related cortisol levels.”

Pharmactive said in its statement that the combined effect on mood, self-esteem, and sleep may have implications for holistic women’s health, healthy aging, and beauty-from-within formulations.

The firm added that the extract absorbs within about one hour, is well tolerated with no significant adverse effects reported, and is available in formats including gummies and chewables. It described the ingredient as clean-label and standardized, and said this is the second clinical trial to assess its effects in menopausal and post-menopausal women, part of a body of 12 human studies.

Sources

Pharmactive Biotech Products, Affron Saffron to Help Improve Mood, Self-Esteem in Adult Women, PR Newswire, June 30, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/affron-saffron-to-help-improve-mood-self-esteem-in-adult-women-302814302.html (accessed July 1, 2026).
Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, The effects of a saffron extract (Affron®) on mood, sleep, self-esteem, and exploratory measures of physical appearance in women aged 50 to 70 years experiencing low mood and poor sleep: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1838513/full (accessed July 1, 2026).

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is provided for dietary supplement industry professionals and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.