I'll get straight to the point, below is a sample of some trials that have been done on VO2 max, Anxiety & DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)
I have tried to structure them so they're easier for you to read and understand, without re-wording anything. This way eventually you will get used to reading trial data and it wont look so foreign and difficult to understand.
One thing to keep in mind with any therapeutic product/ingredient, spice, herb, mushroom etc is that by law, they are not allowed to claim to "cure" anything. Which is why you will notice in the results or conclusions that no claims are made to cure or have a percentage of efficacy. These laws also govern therapeutic products and their labels.
Please keep this in mind when you are reading trial data or the label of any therapuetic or herbal product.
Here are some trials done on saffron for:
Improve VO2max
Reduce DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscles Soreness)
Reduce Anxiety
Improve VO2max
Potential Ergogenic Effects of Saffron
Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron, is a rich source of carotenoids with many health benefits. The muscular strength, pulmonary function, and reaction time are vital to the athlete's performance, and this study aimed to investigate an ergogenic effect of saffron. Twenty-eight nonactive and healthy male university students were randomly assigned into the saffron (n = 14) and control (n = 15) groups.
The experimental group received dried saffron stigma (300 mg/day for 10 days) and the control group received a placebo.
After one session, familiarization with the tests, anthropometric parameters, visual and audio reaction times, and the maximum isometric and isotonic forces on a leg press machine were measured accordingly, 1 day before and after the supplementation period.
This study shows that 10 days of supplementation with saffron significantly increased (10.1%) the isometric force (p < .0001; effect size (EF) = 0.432)
and increased 6.1% the isotonic force (p < .0001; effect size = 0.662),
as well as effecting faster visual (p < .05; EF = 0.217)
and audio (p < .05; EF = 0.214) reaction times.
The ergogenic effect of saffron (increase in the forces) may contribute to increase in the muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and positive effect on the motor cortex, both of which may explain faster audio and visual reaction times. Saffron supplementation was also possibly responsible for improvement of muscle blood perfusion and facilitation in the oxygen transport.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26811090/
DOMS
Preventive effects of 10-day supplementation with saffron and indomethacin on the delayed-onset muscle soreness
Objective: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) often occurs after unaccustomed eccentric exercise and reduces exercise performance. We aimed to study the preventive effects of saffron and indomethacin on the biochemical and functional indicators of DOMS after 1-session eccentric exercise.
Design: A 10-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pretest-posttest design.
Setting: Controlled research laboratory.
Participants: Thirty-nine nonactive male university students randomly divided into saffron (n = 12), indomethacin (n = 12), and control (n = 15) groups.
Interventions: Saffron group received 1 capsule containing dried saffron powder (n = 12, 300 mg/d), indomethacin group received 75 mg indomethacin (n = 12, 25 mg thrice a day), and control group (n = 15) received placebo capsules, 1 week before and 3 days after eccentric exercise.
Ten days before and 24, 48, and 72 hours after muscle soreness protocol, the maximum isometric and isotonic forces, plasma creatine kinase (CK), plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), perceived pain, knee range of movement, and thigh circumference were measured. Muscle soreness protocol was performed with a weight load equal to 80% of the maximum isotonic force in 4 sessions with 20 repetitions and 3-minute rest in between.
Main outcome measures: This study shows that 10-day supplementation with 300 mg saffron significantly decreased the CK and LDH concentrations (P < 0.0001).
In the saffron group, there was no decline in maximum isometric and isotonic forces after eccentric exercise, but a significant decline in the isometric force was observed in the control group (P < 0.0001).
No pain was reported in the saffron group, whereas the indomethacin group experienced pain before 72 hours (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Results obtained from the current novel research indicate a strong preventive effect of 10-day supplementation with saffron on the DOMS.
Clinical relevance: The saffron can be used to prevent DOMS and alleviate the DOMS symptoms.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24915175/
Sporst Anxiety
Saffron in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action
Background: Depression and anxiety are two common mental health problems with high economic and social costs. Currently, a number of treatments are available for patients with depression and anxiety disorders such as psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and antidepressant drugs. Due to safety concerns, adverse effects, limited efficacy and low tolerability associated with many antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications, identification of novel agents with less toxicity and more favorable outcome is warranted.
Methods: The current article provides a non-systematic review of the available in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence on the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action of saffron and its active ingredients in the treatment of anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.
Results: Several interesting data have been reported about the antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties of saffron, the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L., in several preclinical and clinical studies. In particular, a number of clinical trials demonstrated that saffron and its active constituents possess antidepressant properties similar to those of current antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine, imipramine and citalopram, but with fewer reported side effects.
Conclusion: Saffron may exert antidepressant effects and represents an efficacious and safe treatment.
