The Effects Of Crocin Supplementation on Sleep Quality, General Health, and Happiness in Elderly Population: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Introduction: Old age is a period of human life in which general health, especially happiness and hope, might impair. Also, general health, sleep quality and happiness of the elderly in this stage of life start a reducing trend. The present study aimed to determine the effect of crocin of saffron on sleep quality, general health and happiness in elderly population.Materials and Methods: This triple-blind randomized clinical trial recruited elderly referred to the health centerl in Kashan, Iran, at ۲۰۲۰ (n = ۷۰). The study samples divided into intervention and control groups using computer-generated random numbers to receive either ۳۰ mg/day crocin (۲ plus crocin tablet, ۱۵ mg BID) (n = ۳۵) or placebo (۲ tablets per day, ۱۵ mg BID) (n = ۳۵), one hour after taking food, for ۴ weeks. The sleep quality, general health and happiness was evaluated on the at study baseline, ۴ and ۸ weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t and repeated measures ANOVA tests.Results: The two groups matched for demographic characteristics (P>۰.۰۵). Independent t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups on the baseline (Sleep quality p = ۰.۵۵ ،General health p=۰.۰۶۰ and happiness p=۰.۸۳) while there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups on the post-test (P=۰.۰۰۱) and follow-up for three variables.Conclusions: taking crocin by elderly people had beneficial effects on sleep quality, general health and happiness. Given that the efficacy of psychological drug is more critically considered, health‑care professionals can used natural medications such as crocin to increase the psychological parameters of elderly population

کلیدواژه ها:

crocin sleep quality ، general health ، happiness ، elderly.