Study: Crocin and Major Depression
Study: Crocin and Major Depression
Reference
Talaei a, Moghadam MH, Tabassi Sa, Mohajeri Sa. Crocin, the most important active saffron component, as an additional treatment for severe depressive disorders: a randomized, double -blind, placebo -controlled clinical pilot study. j affect disord. 2015; 174: 51-56.
Design
randomized, double -blind, placebo -controlled pilot study
participant
The participants were 40 patients between the ages of 24 and 50 (mean: 36.2 years), in which a serious depressive disorder was diagnosed, in a psychiatric clinic in Mashhad, Iran. There were 34 female and 6 male participants. The exclusion criteria included the use of psychotropic drugs in the previous months; Current or past mood, neurological, cognitive or psychotic disorder; a history of drug abuse or dependency; Or there is a suicide risk.
Study intervention
Twenty patients were given 1 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) plus crocin in 15 mg tablets for 4 weeks twice a day. SSRIS were fluoxetine (Prozac, 20 mg per day), Sertralin (Zoloft, 50 mg per day) or Citalopram (Celexa, 20 mg per day). Patients in the placebo group also received 1 SSRI plus 1 placebo tablet twice a day for 4 weeks. The crocine and placebo tablets had the same shape and color. The participants received no other antidepressants or behavioral therapies throughout the study.
primary result measurements
All participants filled the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 4-week study.
important knowledge
The simultaneous administration of crocin tablets and SSRIS improved the values in all studies compared to the study results of patients who only take SSRIs. The BDI values fell by 42.2 % in the SSRI-Plus Crocin group and 15.9 % in the SSRI-Plus Placebo group. The BAI values fell by 33 % in the intervention group and 7.5 % in the placebo group. The GHQ values fell by 21.5 % in the SSRI-Plus crocin group and 12.3 % in the SSRI-Plus-Placebo group. No serious side effects were reported during the study.
practice implications
depression are among the top 5 most widespread chronic, weakening diseases 1 and is usually treated in the family practice. Patients with depression suffer from depressive mood, anxiety, tiredness, social withdrawal, appetite and sleep disorders and reduced libido. 2 It is assumed that depression is the result of biochemical imbalances in the brain and are therefore treated with pharmacological therapies that increase and regulate neurotransmitter (e.g. SSRIS, tricyclical Antidepressants, monoaminoxidase inhibitors). 3 Not all patients address these medication positively, and in some patients there can be a variety of side effects, including but not limited to sexual dysfunction, weight gain, arrhythmia and nausea. In addition to the side effects, antidepressants do not improve the mood at all in some patients, and these patients can contact naturopathic doctors who can either prescribe antidepressants or natural remedies in order to normalize the neurotransmitter levels and improve the mood.
This study shows that crocin tablets, which are administered with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), lead to a stronger improvement in the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Such natural medicine is saffron (known under its Latin name as crocus sativus ). Saffran is a beautiful and aromatic plant in the swords family and consists of connections such as saffronal, picrocrocin and crocin. It has been shown that saffron and in particular its ingredient crocine influence the dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin level in the brain. 4.5 This study shows that crocine tablets that are administered with SSRIS lead to a stronger improvement in the symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to SSRIs, and Supports the use of oral administration of crocine tablets in connection with SSRIS for treatment of light to moderate depression and fear. Based on earlier studies on the antioxidant effects of crocin, 6 The authors of the present study conclude that the role of crocin is based on improvement and anxiety symptoms on its ability to improve oxidative stress in the brain.
While the study showed that Crocin could be an advantageous additional treatment for depression and anxiety, there were some restrictions in the study, including a short test phase, a small sample size and the use of self -disclosure. Further clinical long -term studies on the effects of crocin on mood disorders and research to clarify his mechanism of action would be an advantage. Since there are no side effects with its application, naturopathic doctors who treat patients with depression and anxiety can take into account the use of crocine in order to reinforce the therapeutic effects of antidepressants.
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