Saffron and safety: food amounts, supplements and pregnancy

“Natural” does not mean safe in any amount. Saffron is a normal food ingredient in the small quantities used in cooking, but large amounts and concentrated supplements are a different matter.

Saffron in cooking

The amounts used to colour and flavour food are small. A 2017 review of saffron toxicology reported that saffron at the doses used in clinical studies, which are measured in milligrams a day, showed no significant toxicity.

Large amounts and concentrated supplements

Eating very large amounts of saffron, or taking concentrated supplements, is not the same as cooking with it. Toxicology reviews describe effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding at high, gram-level doses, and very high doses can be dangerous.

In clinical trials of saffron supplements, side effects such as nausea, headache, dizziness and dry mouth were reported, although reviews found them generally uncommon and similar to placebo.

Pregnancy

Normal amounts used in food are not the same as high doses or supplements. A toxicology review notes that exposure to very high levels of saffron may increase the risk of miscarriage, and advises pregnant women to avoid high doses. A 2026 review of saffron in pregnancy found the evidence limited and inconclusive, with higher doses linked to stimulation of the womb.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not take saffron supplements or medicinal doses unless your doctor advises it.

If you take medicines

If you take regular medicines, particularly for blood pressure, blood sugar or medicines that affect blood clotting, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using saffron supplements.

This caution reflects what studies have measured. In a small one-week safety study in healthy volunteers, the higher dose of saffron tablets lowered standing blood pressure and slightly changed some blood measurements, including platelets, although values stayed within normal ranges. Trials have also reported small reductions in fasting blood glucose with saffron supplements.

Key points

• Saffron in normal cooking amounts is a food ingredient.
• Large amounts and concentrated supplements can cause side effects, and very high doses can be dangerous.
• In pregnancy, avoid high doses and supplements unless your doctor advises otherwise.
• Check with a doctor or pharmacist before using supplements if you take regular medicines.
• Saffron is not a substitute for medical treatment.

Read more about saffron in tradition and research.