Saffron Effectiveness to Alleviate Depression Symptoms and Cortisol Level of Medical Students with Mild–Moderate Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Medical students experience a heightened risk of depression and necessitate effective, low-side-effect interventions. Purpose This study evaluates the efficacy of saffron in decreasing salivary cortisol levels and alleviating mild depressive symptoms in medical students. Materials and Methods A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with eligible undergraduate medical students. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group, which received saffron tablets, or the placebo group for an 8-week duration. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), while salivary cortisol levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Measurements were taken at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Results Among 56 participants (28 in each group), the saffron group exhibited significantly lower HDRS scores compared to the placebo group at week 8 (10.5 vs. 18; p < .001), alongside a notable downward trend ( p < .001). No significant differences in HDRS were observed at week 4 ( p = .302). Salivary cortisol levels did not show significant differences between groups ( p > .05), although the saffron group exhibited a decreasing trend while the placebo group showed an increasing trend. Conclusion Saffron demonstrates efficacy in reducing mild to moderate depressive symptoms among medical students, although it does not lead to significant changes in salivary cortisol levels.