Does saffron affect attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

    Written by:
    Wyatt Brown, Katie Jantz

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: April 23, 2025

    Preliminary research suggests that saffron may be effective in reducing ADHD symptoms, and some trials showed it to be comparable to methylphenidate or more effective when combined with it. Saffron may work by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, similar to the mechanism of many ADHD medications.

    Few trials have assessed the effects of saffron on symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but preliminary research is promising.

    Currently, existing trials have either compared saffron alone to methylphenidate, a common stimulant medication used in ADHD, or compared saffron plus methylphenidate to methylphenidate alone. In two trials, saffron was comparable to methylphenidate for reducing ADHD symptoms and improving executive function in children and adolescents.[1][2] In another two studies, adding saffron to methylphenidate seemed to more effectively reduce ADHD symptoms than methylphenidate alone in both children and adults.[3][4]

    Saffron may inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine (a similar mechanism to many ADHD medications), which could explain these results.[5]