Saffron extract curbs appetite and causes weight loss
Mostly falseThe Claim
Saffron extract is marketed as a natural appetite suppressant that reduces snacking and helps people lose weight.
Origin
A 2010 industry-sponsored trial of a branded saffron extract in 60 mildly overweight women reported less snacking and more weight loss than placebo.
What Science Says
A 2022 meta-analysis of 25 RCTs in overweight and obese people found no significant effect of saffron on body weight (−0.32 kg; 95% CI −3.15 to 2.51), BMI, waist or hip circumference; only waist-to-hip ratio decreased slightly. The early snacking trial has not translated into consistent weight loss across the wider evidence base.
Verdict
Mostly False
Sources
- PMID:35866520 Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on anthropometric and cardiometabolic indices in overweight and obese patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- PMID:20579522 Satiereal, a Crocus sativus L extract, reduces snacking and increases satiety in a randomized placebo-controlled study of mildly overweight, healthy women.