Healthy subjects with self-reported poor sleep
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Daily consumption of 1 capsule containing 20mg saffron extract for 4 weeks.
Group 2: Daily consumption of 1 capsule containing 30mg saffron extract for 4 weeks.
Group 3: Daily intake of 1 cap
Sponsors
Gottfried Wilhelm-Leibniz-Universität Hannover Institut für Lebensmittelwissenschaft und Humanernährung
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: - Regensburg Insomnia Scale score > 12 - No concomitant dietary, pharmacological or psychological treatment for sleep disorder - BMI 20 and 35 mg/m² - Typical bedtime between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. - Ability and willingness of the study participants to follow the instructions of the investigator. This includes compliance with the study conditions, regular consumption of the tested supplement, adherence to provided dietary recommendations, consistent use of actigraphy devices (such as Fitbit watches) and agreement to provide data from these devices for analysis (which will be conducted anonymously) - Willingness to consume 1 capsule of a saffron extract per day 1 hour before bedtime - Written informed consent of the subjects after detailed written explanation of the study content, requirements and risks
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Lifestyle and Occupational Factors: - Occupational Sleep Disruption: Night or rotational shift workers. - External Sleep Disruptors: Affected by factors like awakenings by infants, noise, snoring partners, or chronic pain. - Caffeine Consumption: =4 cups of coffee or caffeine drinks or equivalent per day and no caffeine consumption after 4pm - Alcohol Intake: >14 standard drinks weekly. - Illicit Drug Use: Current or past-year history. - Tobacco/Nicotine: Individuals who smoke more than 5 cigarettes per day or consume an equivalent amount of nicotine through other means on a daily basis are excluded from participation. - Upcoming surgery or travel: Individuals with surgeries or travel (including jetlag) planned within the next three months. Medical and Health Conditions: - Specific Sleep Disorders: Diagnosed sleep disorders (e.g. sleep apnea) excluding psychophysiological insomnia. - Prolonged Sleep Disturbance: Chronic disturbances >1 year. - Mental Health disorders: Diagnosed mental health disorders excluding mild depressive/anxiety symptoms (PHQ-4). - Medical Conditions: Diagnosed chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, gallbladder issues, endocrine disorders, psychiatric conditions, neurological diseases, cancer, or chronic pain. - Reproductive Status: Pregnant, breastfeeding, or intention to become pregnant during the study - Oral Health Issues: Infections, diseases, or recent surgeries. Medication and Supplements: - Antidepressants and other psychotropic medicines - Ongoing Sleep Treatments: Undergoing treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy, psychotherapy. - Supplement Use: Regular use of sleep-affecting supplements such as magnesium or valerian. - Anticoagulant Medications: Subjects being on blood-thinners due to saffron's potential blood thinning properties. - Recent Medication and Supplement Alterations: Individuals who have made changes to their medication or supplement intake within the past 2 months. - Allergies/Antihistamines: Needing antihistamines due to sedative effects. - Laxative Usage: Regular intake of laxatives. - Medications reducing saliva production (salivary sampling) Dietary and Consumption Patterns: - Regular consumption of large amounts of saffron - Saffron Allergy: Allergic to saffron or other components of the capsules Actigraphy (Fitbit Devices): - Skin Conditions: Conditions exacerbated by wristbands, e.g., eczema. - Physical Limitations: Disabilities preventing device usage - Unwillingness/Inability to wear and synchronize the device: The devices need to be worn at night and it is necessary to synchronise the Data via a FitBit-Account. Legal/ Regulatory Restrictions: Under legal protection or deprived rights. Participation in another clinical study currently or in the previous 3 months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Total Score of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) Time Points: t0, t28 Method: Self-Assessment | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Subscales of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) Time Points: t0, t28 Method: Self-Assessment Sleep Quality Time Points: t0, t7, t14, t21, t28 Method: Single-item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), Self-Assessment Detailed Sleep Patterns Time Points: t0, t1, t7, t14, t21, t28 Method: Sleep Diary (DGSM-Sleep Diary), Self-Assessment Objective Sleep Parameters Period: t-7 to t28 Method: Actigraphy (Fitbit Inspire 3) Daytime Sleepiness Time Points: t0, t7, t14, t21, t28 Method: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Self-Assessment Affective Mood State Time Points: t0, t7, t14, t21, t28 Method: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Self-Assessment Perceived Stress Time Points: t0, t28 Method: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Self-Assessment Mental Health Time Points: t0, t14, t28 Method: Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), Self-Assessment Quality of Life Time Points: t0, t14, t28 Method: WHOQOL-BREF, Self-Assessment | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactJulius Schuster
Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Lebensmittelwissenschaft und Humanernährung
Outcome results
None listed