Saffron Aqueous Extract Prevents Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia on Olanzapine Treatment: A Randomized Triple Blind Placebo Controlled Study

F. Fadai; B. Mousavi; Z. Ashtari; N. Ali beigi; S. Farhang; S. Hashempour; N. Shahhamzei; S. Zahra Bathaie

doi:10.1055/s-0034-1382001

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 2014; 47(04/05): 156-161
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382001

Original Paper

Saffron Aqueous Extract Prevents Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia on Olanzapine Treatment: A Randomized Triple Blind Placebo Controlled Study

F. Fadai

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

,

B. Mousavi

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

,

Z. Ashtari

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

,

N. Ali beigi

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

,

S. Farhang

²Clinical Psychiatry Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

,

S. Hashempour

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

,

N. Shahhamzei

³Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

,

S. Zahra Bathaie

³Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

⁴Present address: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles [UCLA], Los Angeles, CA, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether saffron aqueous extract (SAE) or its active constituent, crocin, prevents olanzapine-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: 66 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who were on olanzapine treatment (5–20 mg daily) were randomly allocated to receive a capsule of SAE (n=22; 30 mg daily), crocin (n=22; 30 mg daily) or placebo (n=22) in a 12-week triple-blind trial. Patients were screened not to have MetS at baseline and further assessment was done at weeks 6 and 12. Measurement of fasting blood glucose (FBS) and serum lipids were repeated at weeks 2, 6 and 12. Fasting blood levels of insulin and HbA1c were also measured at baseline and week 12. HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were determined to evaluate insulin resistance.

Results: 61 patients completed the trial and no serious adverse effects were reported. Time-treatment interaction showed a significant difference in FBS in both SAE and crocin groups compared to placebo (p=0.004). In addition, SAE could effectively prevent reaching the criteria of metabolic syndrome (0 patients) compared to crocin (9.1%) and placebo (27.3%) as early as week 6.

Conclusion: SAE could prevent metabolic syndrome compared to crocin and placebo. Furthermore, both SAE and crocin prevented increases in blood glucose during the study.

Key words

saffron - olanzapine - FBS - metabolic syndrome - insulin resistance

Full Text

References

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