New Saffron Extract Trial Links Mood Improvement to Self-Esteem Gains in Menopausal Women

A newly published trial is offering finished product manufacturers a more detailed picture of how a well-studied saffron extract performs when multiple, often co-occurring wellness outcomes are measured together rather than in isolation.¹

The study, conducted by Adrian Lopresti, PhD, and funded by Pharmactive Biotech Products, evaluated Affron, a standardized saffron extract, in women navigating menopause and the years following it, a population in which low mood, disrupted sleep, and diminished self-esteem frequently overlap.²

For manufacturers formulating in the women's health, healthy aging, or beauty-from-within categories, the results add specificity to where this ingredient may fit, while underscoring that several of the study's most attention-grabbing findings were secondary and exploratory rather than primary measures.

"This is the first clinical trial showing that Affron can positively impact 3 closely connected aspects of well-being: mood, self-esteem, and the daily impact of poor sleep," said Adal Mena, research and development scientist and product specialist for Affron, in a statement accompanying the trial's publication.¹

What Did the Trial Measure, and What Did It Find?

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 86 women aged 50 to 70 years who reported low mood and poor sleep, assigning participants to receive either 28 mg of Affron daily or a matching placebo over 12 weeks.²

The primary outcome was change in depressive symptoms, measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale–Depression Subscale. Close to half of the women taking the saffron extract met the study's responder criteria on that measure, compared with roughly 1 in 4 in the placebo group, with separation between groups emerging after 4 weeks. Mean depressive symptom scores fell by roughly half in the saffron group, versus about a third in the placebo group.

Beyond the primary endpoint, the trial included exploratory measures of self-esteem, using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and of sleep-related impairment, using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scales.² Self-esteem scores improved by about 10% in the saffron group compared with roughly 5% in the placebo group. Because self-esteem was a secondary, exploratory outcome rather than the trial's prespecified primary endpoint, it carries less statistical weight than the depression findings and should be interpreted accordingly.

Why Are Mood, Sleep, and Self-Esteem Connected During Menopause?

According to the trial's authors, menopause and the years following it represent a period of heightened vulnerability to mood disturbances and impaired sleep, which prompted their decision to study this population specifically.

The interaction between disrupted sleep, low mood, and how women perceive themselves is described in the trial as a rationale for testing a single intervention across all 3 domains concurrently, though the underlying physiological relationships among these outcomes were not directly measured in this study.

What Mechanisms Have Been Proposed for These Effects?

The trial's authors point to several previously described properties of saffron as possible contributors to the observed effects, including anti-inflammatory activity, modulation of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine signaling, and antioxidant protection against oxidative stress.

The authors also note that Affron has been evaluated in prior research, including in younger populations, though this study specifically represents only the second trial to examine the extract in menopausal and postmenopausal women. These mechanistic explanations remain associative rather than confirmed by the present trial's design, which measured clinical outcomes rather than the biological pathways proposed to underlie them.

What Are the Trial's Limitations?

The sample size of 86 participants is modest, and the trial represents only the second study to specifically examine Affron in this demographic, meaning the evidence base in this subgroup remains limited.

The self-esteem and appearance-related findings were exploratory rather than confirmatory, and the proposed biological mechanisms connecting saffron's anti-inflammatory and neurotransmitter-modulating activity to self-esteem outcomes were not directly tested in this trial. Replication in larger, independent cohorts will be needed before self-esteem and sleep-related claims can be considered as well-substantiated as the ingredient's depression-related effects.

References

1. Pharmactive Biotech Products, S.L.U. Affron saffron to help improve mood, self-esteem in adult women. PR Newswire. June 30, 2026. Accessed June 30, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/affron-saffron-to-help-improve-mood-self-esteem-in-adult-women-302814302.html

2. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. The effects of a saffron extract (Affron®) on mood, sleep, self-esteem, and exploratory measures of physical appearance in women aged 50 to 70 years experiencing low mood and poor sleep: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Front Nutr. 2026;13:1838513. doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1838513. Front Nutr. 2026. doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1838513