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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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Saffron and Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 2 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies (1 meta-analysis, 2 RCTs), 2 reported statistically significant beneficial effects of saffron on reducing interleukin-6 levels. Effect sizes were mixed (small to moderate). The most studied doses were 100–200 mg/day in clinical populations (obese women with type 2 diabetes, ICU sepsis patients), with a median study duration of ~46 days.

  • Effective dose range: 100-200 mg/day
  • Studied populations: Clinical populations (obese women with type 2 diabetes, ICU sepsis patients)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Results are mixed: a large meta-analysis in the broader T2DM population found no significant effect, while two smaller RCTs in specific subgroups found significant reductions. Doses and durations varied substantially across studies (100–200 mg/day, 7–84 days), and no specific form of saffron was consistently reported.

Generated Jul 18, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 100–200 (median 150, IQR 125–175) — 2 studies
Time to effect
Median: 6.5 weeks · IQR 3.8 weeks–9.3 weeks · Range 7 days–2.8 months — Reported in 2 of 3 studies
3 of 3 papers
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