As a retina doc, I was just thinking about this topic today. I watched a video of someone suggesting saffron for age-related macular degeneration. I did a quick literature search and learned there there have been a few small RCT’s showing benefit. But ultimately, the conclusion was "we need more studies with longer follow-up and bigger sample size…”
As a doctor, I am reluctant to recommend something to all patients without rigorous RCT data. But let’s be honest, there will never be a large RCT of saffron for eye disease - it would take years and it’s just too expensive. Unless it can be patented, there isn’t a financial incentive to put the resources into a large RCT.
And yet I see patients every day who had a parent go blind from macular degeneration and they ask me desperately, “Is there anything more I can do to prevent it?” I’m struggling with what we as doctors should say. The promotion of N of 1 studies is a potential answer to this dilemma.
Great content, thanks for sharing.
As a retina doc, I was just thinking about this topic today. I watched a video of someone suggesting saffron for age-related macular degeneration. I did a quick literature search and learned there there have been a few small RCT’s showing benefit. But ultimately, the conclusion was "we need more studies with longer follow-up and bigger sample size…”
As a doctor, I am reluctant to recommend something to all patients without rigorous RCT data. But let’s be honest, there will never be a large RCT of saffron for eye disease - it would take years and it’s just too expensive. Unless it can be patented, there isn’t a financial incentive to put the resources into a large RCT.
And yet I see patients every day who had a parent go blind from macular degeneration and they ask me desperately, “Is there anything more I can do to prevent it?” I’m struggling with what we as doctors should say. The promotion of N of 1 studies is a potential answer to this dilemma.
As a gym bro pseudoscientist, I agree 100%.