Systematic review and meta-analysis finds saffron supplementation alongside exercise reduces tumor necrosis factor-alpha, indicating a viable nutritional strategy to mitigate inflammation.
Background: Exercise affects the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors, and medicinal plants play an important role in reducing these indicators.Saffron supplementation has been considered by researchers as a nutritional solution for modulating inflammation and oxidative stress caused by exercise.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of exercise and saffron supplementation on inflammatory and oxidant indices through a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: A systematic search of articles published in English and Persian was conducted from the databases Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, SID, and Magiran until January 2026 and entered into meta-analysis.The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random model.The I2 index was also used to determine the heterogeneity of studies, and publication bias was examined using funnel plot analysis and Egger's test.Results:The results of the present meta-analysis showed that exercise training combined with saffron supplementation significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (SMD = -1.29,95% CI =-2.30 to -0.29).However, no significant changes were observed in interleukin-6 levels (SMD = -0.06,95% CI =-0.91 to -1.03) and malondialdehyde levels (SMD = -0.43,95% CI =-0.31 to -1.17).Conclusion:Saffron supplementation, along with exercise training, is a very effective strategy for suppressing tumor necrosis factor alpha, a key indicator of systemic inflammation, and prevents the increase in malondialdehyde levels.
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Nazari et al. (2026) studied this question.
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