Saffron appears to be safe, effective adjunct treatment for AMD
Key takeaways:
- Current available evidence suggests that saffron is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for AMD.
- Its antiangiogenic, neuroprotective and antioxidant mechanisms may delay the progression of AMD.
Crocus sativus , or saffron, appeared to be a safe and tolerable adjunct treatment for age-related macular degeneration, helping to improve visual function and delay disease progression, according to a review article.
“The effects were independent of genetic risk factors and were maintained throughout the follow-up periods, suggesting the potential role of saffron as a long-term treatment option,” Ahmad Shamabadi, MD, a researcher at the Psychiatric Research Center of Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and colleagues wrote in a review, published in Medical hypothesis discovery and innovation in ophthalmology.
Although AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries, current treatments are limited by high costs, variable effectiveness and potential side effects, the researchers wrote, with management of dry AMD presenting additional challenges. Previous research suggests that saffron’s antiangiogenic, neuroprotective and antioxidant mechanisms may make it a viable therapy for AMD.
This inspired the researchers to conduct a literature review to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of saffron as a potential AMD treatment. They searched PubMed and MEDLINE to identify nine relevant clinical and preclinical studies.
Mechanisms of action
Researchers reported that the primary active compound in saffron, crocetin, reduces the progression of AMD through two pathways: antiangiogenesis and neuroprotection. By limiting the formation of abnormal blood cells and preserving retinal cells by combating oxidative stress and reducing inflammation, crocetin has potential to manage AMD.
Further, crocetin’s antioxidant properties allow it to neutralize reactive oxygen species, helping to limit oxidative damage of retinal tissues.
Notably, saffron’s antiangiogenic effect may help treat neovascular AMD by disrupting VEGF and VEGFR2 binding and counteracting the VEGF cascade, which is a key factor in AMD pathogenesis. Also, both crocin, another active compound in saffron, and crocetin reduced the gene expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are involved in inflammation and angiogenesis, potentially protecting against AMD.
Clinical efficacy
Multiple clinical studies reported that participants who received daily supplement of 20 mg to 50 mg of saffron or 5 mg to 15 mg of crocin for 3 to 12 months experienced improved best corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and retinal function, according to ERG and microperimetry measurements. These benefits were recorded among participants with forms of wet and dry AMD and were not altered by genetic risk factors.
Some of the studies reported that saffron supplementation conveyed additional benefits when combined with other adjunct therapies, such as AREDS supplements. Researchers also found that saffron may help treat other macular diseases, including Stargardt disease and refractory diabetic macular edema. Many of the studies emphasized the need for additional research to confirm their findings.
Although multiple adverse events have been linked to saffron consumption, researchers found that these events were not serious and were similar in frequency to placebo and other medications. None of the studies reported significant increases in adverse events after saffron consumption.
Limitations, next steps
Shamabadi and colleagues noted several limitations to the studies they reviewed, including relatively small sample sizes, short durations and lack of long-term safety data. Concerning this review, the researchers wrote that limited studies on the use of saffron for AMD treatment as well as their usage of only one database may have affected their results.
“While further research is needed to confirm long-term safety and efficacy, current evidence supports the use of saffron or crocin supplements as a safe and tolerable adjunct therapy for [AMD],” Shamabadi and colleagues wrote.
“Long-term studies may provide deeper knowledge of the possible advantages and uses of saffron in [AMD] treatment, improving the dependability, reliability and clarity of findings,” they added.
Perspective
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This study offers promising insights into the potential role of saffron as a natural remedy for AMD, suggesting that its antioxidant properties might help protect retinal cells from oxidative damage and possibly slow disease progression.
The research indicates that saffron might improve visual function and enhance retinal sensitivity, potentially making it a valuable addition to treatment protocols, particularly for patients with mild to moderate AMD. For optometrists, this presents a compelling opportunity to incorporate a noninvasive, natural adjunct into existing care plans, especially for those in the early stages of AMD.
Saffron’s ability to preserve visual function and support retinal health could complement existing therapies, potentially offering an additional layer of protection for patients. While the study’s sample size and duration were somewhat limited, the results are encouraging, and saffron’s potential as a supplementary treatment should not be overlooked.
Compared with the well-established AREDS2 supplement, saffron has a strong safety profile and has been generally well-tolerated in clinical studies. However, its clinical efficacy remains less extensively studied than AREDS2, which has robust long-term data supporting its role in reducing the progression of AMD.
Given its versatility, saffron could be integrated with other AMD treatments, offering a natural complement to care. With these hopeful findings, optometrists may consider recommending saffron for early-stage AMD patients while monitoring its effects.
The growing interest in holistic approaches to health care supports the idea of integrating saffron into AMD management, but further research would help solidify its place in clinical protocols. Future research should focus on large-scale trials comparing saffron with AREDS2, exploring its combination with zinc, optimizing dosage and clarifying its mechanisms. Long-term safety and efficacy studies, along with retinal imaging for vascular effects, will help define its clinical role.
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Shamabadi A, et al. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2024;doi:10.51329/mehdiophthal1505.