Ingredient guide
Saffron extract: evidence, dose and safety
Saffron is the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. Extracts are standardised to compounds such as crocin and safranal.
At a glance
- Strongest evidence
- B Good
- Dose in our plans
- 30 mg a day for adults
- Adult upper limit
- 100 mg a day from food and supplements together
- Safety checks
- 1 situation and 2 medicine or supplement interactions, checked against your answers in every plan
- Reviewed
- Atrum Labs clinical team (MD, PhD), November 2026
What the research looked at
Each line is one body of research, graded A (strong) to D (weak). How we grade evidence. What each study measured is explained in your personal plan.
| Grade | Who was studied | References |
|---|---|---|
| B | Adults with low mood |
|
How much
- Our plans usually use 30 mg a day for adults. The exact dose depends on your lab results, age and medicines.
- Adult upper limit: 100 mg a day from food and supplements together. Source: Trials used 28-30 mg a day (Hausenblas HA et al. J Integr Med 2013); doses of several grams are toxic.
- Children's doses are set by age, and some ingredients are for adults only.
Who should not take it, or should check first
- Not suitable. Supplemental saffron doses may stimulate the uterus; no safety data.
Medicines and other supplements
- A clinician checks first. Possible additive serotonergic effect with antidepressants.
- A clinician checks first. Two serotonergic ingredients together.
Your plan is checked against every medicine you tell us about. If you take a medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor before starting a new supplement.
Written and reviewed by the Atrum Labs clinical team (physician-scientists, MD, PhD) from our clinical knowledge base, version 0.2.0-draft. This page is general information, not medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
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