Effect of Saffron with or Without Date Sugar on Intensity of Pain and Anxiety During Labor in Primiparous Females: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background: Reduction of pain and anxiety during labor is necessary to prevent some of the maternal and fetal complications, as well as request for cesarean section. There is limited evidence assessing the effects of saffron and dates on intensity of pain and anxiety. Objectives: The current study aimed at examining the effect of saffron with or without dates on the intensity of pain and anxiety during transitional and active phases of labor in primiparous females. Methods: In the current superiority trial, 96 primiparous females admitted to a hospital covered by the iranian social security organization in Tabriz, Iran, at the onset of active phase of labor were recruited using convenience sampling method from 10 January to 21 October 2016. They were randomly divided into three equal groups using block randomization; receiving 80 mL oral syrup of saffron (250 mg) plus date juice (65 g), saffron (250 mg) plus artificial sugar (165 mg sodium saccharin and 420 mg sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), or placebo every two hours for maximum three doses (240 mL). Intensity of pain and anxiety were assessed using 0-10 visual analogue scale every one hour. Results: Compared with the placebo, mean scores of both pain and anxiety were lower in the intervention groups. The differences were statistically significant at the saffron plus date juice group (adjusted mean difference: -0.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.5 to 0.0), P = 0.022 and -1.3 (95% CI: -2.4 to -0.2), P = 0.012, respectively), but were not significant at the saffron plus artificial sugar group (-0.5 (95% CI: -1.2 to 0.2), P = 0.322 and -1.1 (95% CI: -2.2 to 0.0), P = 0.058, respectively). The differences between the two intervention groups were not statistically significant (-0.3 (95% CI: -1.0 to 0.4), P = 0.557 and -0.2 (95% CI: -1.3 to 0.8), P = 0.927, respectively). One woman from saffron plus date juice, three from saffron plus artificial sugar, and four from the placebo groups had emergency cesarean section. Conclusions: The current study results show that the oral syrup of saffron plus date juice could be used to reduce the intensity of pain and anxiety during labor in primiparous females. However, the results are inconclusive for the effects of saffron plus artificial sugar.