The Effects of Crocin Supplementation on Sleep Quality, General Health, and Happiness in Elderly Population: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Aging is a period of human life in which general health, especially happiness, and hope, may be impaired. Also, sleep quality, general health, and happiness of the elderly begin o decline at this stage of life. The present study aimed to determine the effect of crocin of saffron on sleep quality, general health, and happiness in the elderly population

In this triple-blind randomized trial, 70 elderly people referred to Kashan health center in 2020 were selected. The study samples were divided into intervention and control groups using computer-generated random numbers to receive 30 mg/d of crocin (2 plus crocin tablet, 15 mg Beck depression inventory [BID]) (n=35) or placebo (2 tablets per day, 15 mg Beck depression inventory [BID]) (n=35), one hour after taking food, for 4 weeks. The sleep quality, general health, and happiness were evaluated at the beginning of the study, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

The two groups were matched in terms of demographic characteristics (P>0.05). The independent t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups in the baseline (sleep quality P=0.55, general health P=0.060, and happiness P=0.83) while a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups on the post-test (P=0.001) and follow-up for three variables.

The consumption of crocin by elderly individuals had useful outcomes on sleep quality, well-being, and happiness. Given that the efficacy of the psychological drugs is vital, nurses can use natural medications, such as crocin to improve the psychological disorders of elderly people.