title: Saffron aqueous extract prevents metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia on olanzapine treatment: a randomized triple blind placebo controlled study.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SAE could prevent metabolic syndrome compared to crocin and placebo. Furthermore, both SAE and crocin prevented increases in blood glucose during the study.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Fadai
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Mousavi
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Ashtari
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ali beigi
authors: Clinical Psychiatry Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Farhang
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hashempour
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Shahhamzei
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: S Zahra
authors: SZ
authors: Bathaie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027622:Crocus; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin; D000077152:Olanzapine