· By GUUDIES Editorial Team
Best Saffron Supplement UK: Doses, Extracts and What the Trials Used
By the GUUDIES Editorial Team · Last updated: 25 October 2026.
Short answer: the best saffron supplement for you is one that names its extract, states how many milligrams you get a day, and matches the doses used in published research, which are mostly 15 to 30mg a day of a standardised stigma extract. Below is a dose table built from the trials themselves, then a checklist for comparing what is on sale in the UK.
What a saffron supplement is
Saffron is the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. Supplements use either ground stigma or, more often, an extract standardised to a set level of its natural compounds (crocins and safranal), so every serving is the same. Several branded extracts have their own trials, including affron®, Satiereal® and safr'Inside™.
Doses used in the published trials
These are the doses researchers gave people, not recommendations. Most trials were small and short, and many were run in a single country, so read them as early evidence.
| Study | Who took part | Saffron and daily dose | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akhondzadeh et al., 2005 (Phytotherapy Research) | 40 adults with diagnosed mild to moderate depression, vs placebo | Saffron stigma, 30mg (15mg twice a day) | 6 weeks |
| Agha-Hosseini et al., 2008 (BJOG) | Women aged 20 to 45 with premenstrual symptoms, vs placebo | Saffron stigma, 30mg (15mg twice a day) | 2 menstrual cycles |
| Gout et al., 2010 (Nutrition Research) | 60 mildly overweight healthy women, vs placebo | Satiereal® extract, 176.5mg | 8 weeks |
| Kell et al., 2017 (Complementary Therapies in Medicine) | 128 healthy adults reporting low mood (not diagnosed), vs placebo | affron® extract, 22mg or 28mg | 4 weeks |
| Pachikian et al., 2021 (Nutrients) | 66 adults with mild to moderate sleep complaints, vs placebo | Saffron extract, 15.5mg | 6 weeks |
What the reviews say
- A 2013 meta-analysis pooled five small randomised trials in adults with major depressive disorder and found a large effect for saffron compared with placebo, but its authors said larger trials run outside Iran, with longer follow-up, are needed before firm conclusions (Hausenblas et al., Journal of Integrative Medicine).
- A 2019 meta-analysis included 11 trials in mild to moderate depression (nine pooled) and reported saffron outperformed placebo (Tóth et al., Planta Medica).
- A 2026 systematic review of 102 human trials found saffron was generally well tolerated; the most common side effects were mild stomach upsets, and the authors advise monitoring at higher doses or with long use (Hasheminasab et al., Health Science Reports).
Important: these studies are research findings, not approved health claims. There are currently no authorised health claims for saffron in Great Britain, so no saffron supplement, including ours, can claim to improve mood, sleep or appetite. Saffron is not a treatment for depression or anxiety. If your mood is low, please speak to your GP.
How to compare saffron supplements in the UK
- Named extract or plain powder? A named, standardised extract tells you what was tested. Plain saffron powder varies by harvest.
- Milligrams per day, not per capsule. Check how many capsules or gummies make up a daily serving.
- Does the dose match the research for that extract? Extracts are not interchangeable: 28mg of one extract is not the same as 28mg of another.
- Batch testing. Saffron is one of the most commonly adulterated foods, so look for a brand that says how it checks identity and purity.
- What else is in it. Look at the sugar, sweeteners, gelatine and other actives, especially if you take other supplements.
- Price per daily serving. Divide the price by the number of days it lasts, not the number of capsules.
Where GUUDIES fits
GUUDIES is not a single-ingredient saffron supplement. Saffron extract is one of three botanicals in our Metabolic gummy, at 90mg per daily serving, alongside blood orange extract and lemon extract. The Metabolic gummy is one of six in the daily pouch. Read more on our saffron extract page.
Who should not take saffron supplements
- Not recommended in pregnancy at supplement doses.
- If you are breastfeeding, take prescription medicine (especially anything for mood or blood pressure, or blood thinners) or are under medical supervision, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
- Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Common questions
How much saffron did the studies use?
Most trials used 15 to 30mg a day of saffron stigma or a standardised extract. One appetite trial used 176.5mg of a different extract, Satiereal®.
Is cooking saffron the same as a supplement?
No. Culinary saffron threads vary in strength. Supplements use a measured amount, usually of a standardised extract.
How long were the trials?
Usually four to eight weeks. There is little long-term data.
Can saffron supplements make health claims in the UK?
No. There are no authorised health claims for saffron in Great Britain at the moment.
Is saffron safe?
At the doses used in trials it was generally well tolerated, with mild stomach upsets the most common side effect. It is not recommended in pregnancy, and you should check with your GP if you take medication.