Effect of saffron supplementation on liver enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Hasani M 1 , Malekahmadi M 2 , Rezamand G 3 , Estêvão MD 4 , Pizarro AB 5 , Heydari H 6 Show all authors , Hoong WC 7 , Arafah OA 8 , Barakeh ARR 9 , Rahman A 10 , Alrashidi MSK 11 , Abu-Zaid A 12

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 2 Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 3 Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 4 Universidade do Algarve, Escola Superior de Saúde, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: mestevao@ualg.pt
  • 5 Clinical Research Center, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address: a.pizarro@javeriana.edu.co
  • 6 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran. Electronic address: Hafez1362@gmail.com
  • 7 Department of Pharmacy, Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Electronic address: ljun3251@hotmail.com
  • 8 College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: o_arafah@hotmail.com
  • 9 College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: A.R.R.Barakeh@gmail.com
  • 10 College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Reej2121994@gmail.com
  • 11 Department of Family Medicine, National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • 12 College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States. Electronic address: aabuzaid@live.com
Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2021 10 12;15(6):102311.
PMID: 34678576 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2021.102311

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Possible protective effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L) have been reported in several randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Current systematic review was performed to summarize the efficacy of saffron intake on liver enzymes.

METHODS: An electronic database search was conducted on PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane for RCTs comparing effect of saffron and placebo on liver enzymes from inception to July 2021. There was no restriction in language of included studies and we calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) for each variable. Random-effect model was used to calculate effect size.

RESULTS: Eight studies (n = 463 participants) were included in the systematic review. The saffron intake was associated with a statistically significant decrease in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SMD: -0.18; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.02; I2 = 0%) in comparison to placebo intake. Our results also indicated that saffron consumption did not have a significant effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (SMD: -0.14; 95% CI: -0.36, 0.09; I2 = 47.0%) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (SMD: 0.14; 95% CI: -0.18, 0.46; I2 = 42.9%) compared to placebo.

CONCLUSIONS: Saffron intake showed beneficial impacts on circulating AST levels. However, larger well-designed RCTs are still needed to clarify the effect of saffron intake on these and other liver enzymes.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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