A low-cost spice helps sleep in sarcoidosis
STUDY: Moghimi Dehkordi Z et al, Iran J Pharm Res 2026
STUDY TYPE: Randomized, single-blind controlled trial
FUNDING: Independent
Background
Poor sleep is common in pulmonary sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease, and sleep medicines are not safe in lung disease. Saffron is a non-sedating anti-inflammatory that deepened sleep quality in at least six randomized trials of other populations, and this is the first trial to test it in lung disease.
The Study
- 76 adults with pulmonary sarcoidosis and poor sleep (Sleep scale (PSQI) score of 5 or higher). 72 completed.
- Randomized to saffron, 30 mg twice daily, plus sleep-hygiene counseling, or counseling alone, for 60 days.
- Single-blind: patients knew their group, but raters and analysts didn’t.
Results
Saffron beat sleep-hygiene counseling alone across every measure. Sleep scores (PSQI) dropped to 8.4 with saffron versus 10.6 with counseling alone, above the usual 3-point threshold for a meaningful change. Daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) fell further with saffron, 4.2 versus 6.7. Fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale) also improved more, 26.0 versus 30.6.
The biggest difference was in general sleep disturbance scores, where saffron patients ended up with roughly half the disturbance score of controls. Quality-of-life scores (SF-12) favored saffron too, with the mental health component improving more than the physical component.
Side Effects
One patient on saffron had a mild, self-resolving headache. No serious adverse events and no dropouts from side effects in either group.
Limitations
No placebo group, single-blind design, 60-day follow-up only, and a single-center population in Iran.
Practice Implications
- Saffron is not directly sedating but improves sleep — now in seven randomized trials, some from outside Iran, and most in older adults. Patients say they feel more “refreshed” the next morning.
- Saffron has better evidence in depression, where it also improves anxiety, sexual function, and possibly weight loss.
- Most trials used 15-30 mg for sleep; this one used 30 mg bid (DuraLife Brand). Affron is a well-studied brand available in products here.
—Chris Aiken, MD
Director, Psych Partners
Editor in Chief, Carlat Psychiatry Report
