Saffron for age-related macular degeneration (AMD); A hope to stop vision loss from AMD

There have been several studies testing saffron for its protective effects in macular degeneration

Saffron is an ancient spice that has been used across Europe and Asia for its fascinating colour and invigorating aroma.

Saffron for its effects on cellular targets and for possessing many beneficial effects in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye problem prevalent among seniors aged 50 and over, is a superior ingredient for an optimal eye health nutritional supplement, to help promote eye health and stop vision loss. Saffron contains carotenoids crocin and crocetin that have shown strong protective effects on retinal cells, helping restore function and structure of retinal cells damaged by oxidative stress and age-related macular degeneration.1,2

Saffron supplement clinical study for treatment of dry macular degeneration:

A recent clinical study has shown that taking oral supplementation of saffron for three months in patients with early stage age-related macular degeneration induced a significant improvement of retinal function, creating a hope that saffron may be the natural answer to vision loss from macular degeneration.  The effects, however, disappeared when patients stopped taking the saffron pills. No adverse side effects were noticed. 2 According to Professor Silvia Bisti who carried out the research in patients with age-related macular degeneration, ‘Patients’ vision improved after taking the saffron pill’. 3,4. Saffron has created hope for an effective nutritional intervention for early stage macular degeneration to stop or delay risk of vision loss. The beneficial effects of saffron in early age-related macular degeneration is unique, not seen with AREDS formulation which is most effective in slowing the progression of disease in individuals with high risk of developing advanced AMD, i.e., progression from intermediate AMD to advanced AMD. Vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration has debilitating effect on quality of life and any successful intervention at the early stage can lead to significant improvement in quality of life in individuals affected by macular degeneration.

Saffron is a spice that contains the antioxidants carotenoids, crocin, and crocetin among other ingredients, with strong antioxidative, and cell-/neuro-protective properties. 5

Crocin from saffron has antioxidant activity stronger than alpha-tocopherol, and can prevent the formation of peroxidized lipids, and can partly restore superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. 6

The first report on eye health benefits of saffron in macular degeneration and its main active compound, crocin, came from Xuan and co-workers in 1999 that suggested crocin and its analogs can be used to treat ischemic retinopathy and/or age-related macular degeneration. They showed that crocin analogs significantly increased blood flow in the retina and choroid, and thus can prevent cell death. 7

Saffron protects against blue light damage; benefits in macular degeneration:

Saffron also protects eye from damaging effects of bright light, which is a risk factor causing damage and degeneration to macula of the eye, which could result in macular degeneration. The carotenoid crocin has protective effect against blue light- and white light-induced rod and cone death in bovine and primate retinal cell cultures. 8 Saffron’s protective effect against light damage on photoreceptors appears to be via maintaining both morphology and function of photoreceptors. 9

Light exposure leads to photoreceptor degeneration, and several epidemiological studies have suggested that long-term history of exposure to light may have some impact on the incidence and progression of age-related macular degeneration, and saffron might be a natural solution to protect eyes. 10,11

Crocetin, which is another carotenoid in saffron, significantly inhibited photoreceptor degeneration and retinal dysfunction in in-vitro and in-vivo models. This retinal protective effect was shown to be mediated by inhibiting an increase in caspase-3 and -9. 12

Saffron modulates expression of retinal genes and helps restore structure and function of retinal cells

Saffron modulates expression of genes involved in retinal cells self repair and protection pathways; helping retinal cells regain function and structure against macular degeneration:

A recent microarray study showed that saffron appears to have direct regulatory effect on oxidative protection of retina by regulating expression of retinal genes with neuroprotective function (eg., Crot, Optn, Edn2, Smarcad1, Gpx3), particularly those genes regulated by light-induced photoreceptor damage. 1

Saffron 2020 is a patented eye health supplement for macular degeneration, and is formulated with 20 mg high-quality saffron plus other important eye health nutrients such as lutein, resveratrol, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B12 or roboflavin, zin and copper. Saffron 2020 helps maintain eye health and support eyesight in macular degeneration.

Selected references on benefits of saffron for treatment of macular degeneration:

1- Natoli R, Zhu Y, Valter K, Bisti S, Eells J, Stone J (2010). Gene and noncoding RNA regulation underlying photoreceptor protection: microarray study of dietary antioxidant saffron and photobiomodulation in rat retina. Mol Vis 16: 1801-1822.

2- Falsini B, Piccardi M, Minnella A, Savastano C, Capoluongo E, Fadda A, Balestrazzi E, Maccarone R, Bisti S. (2010). Saffron Supplementation Improves Retinal Flicker Sensitivity in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 51: 6118-6124.

3- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/5522063/Saffron-can-protect-against-eyesight-loss.html

4- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1248890/Curry-spice-saffron-stop-going-blind.html

5- Schmidt M, Betti G, Hensel A. (2007). Saffron in phytotherapy: pharmacology and clinical uses. Wien Med Wochenschr 157: 315-319.

6- Ochiai T, Ohno S, Soeda S, Tanaka H, Shoyama Y, Shimeno H. (2004). Crocin prevents the death of rat pheochromyctoma (PC-12) cells by its antioxidant effects stronger than those of alpha-tocopherol. Neurosci Lett  362:61-64

7- Xuan B, Zhou YH, Li N, Min ZD, Chiou GC. (1999). Effects of crocin analogs on ocular blood flow and retinal function. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 15:143-152.

8- Laabich A, Vissvesvaran GP, Lieu KL, Murata K, McGinn TE, Manmoto CC, Sinclair JR, Karliga I, Leung DW, Fazwi A, Kubota R. (2006). Protective effect of crocin against blue light- and white light-mediated photoreceptor cell death in bovine and primate retinal primary cell culture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47: 3156 – 3163.

9- Maccarone R, Di Marco S, Bisti S. (2008). Saffron supplement maintains morphology and function after exposure to damaging light in mammalian retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 49: 1254 –1261.

10- Taylor HR, West S, Muñoz B, Rosenthal FS, Bressler SB, Bressler NM. (1992). The long-term effects of visible light on the eye. Arch Ophthalmol 110:99-104.

11- Thomas BB, Seiler MJ, Aramant RB, Samant D, Qiu G, Vyas N, Arai S, Chen Z, Sadda SR. (2007). Visual functional effects of constant blue light in a retinal degenerate rat model. Photochem Photobiol 83: 759-765.

12- Yamauchi M, Tsuruma K, Imai S, Nakanishi T, Umigai N, Shimazawa M, Hara H. (2010). Crocetin prevents retinal degeneration induced by oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stresses via inhibition of caspase activity. Eur J Pharmacol 650:110-119.