Fenugreek

USAGE AND EFFECTIVENESS

Usage	Effectiveness
Diabetes	Effective (Increase blood sugar control for Type 2 diabetes) • Analysis of several clinical studies showed that fenugreek may lower fasting sugar level (about 20mg/dl), post meal sugar level (23mg/dl) and glycated hemoglobin HbA1C (about 1.2%), as compared to pills without active ingredient. Source: 1 2 3 • Fenugreek may also confer benefit of lowering total cholesterol and triglyceride; however, its overall effect on the cholesterol profile is unclear. Source: 1 2
Dysmenorrhea	Effective (Lessen intensity of pain) • Shown in a well-designed trial that Fenugreek may provide significant pain relief in women with medium to serious dysmenorrhea as compared to placebo (pills without any active ingredient). Source • Dysmenorrhea is a condition of extremely or severe cramps during menstruation.
Breast-feeding	Mild effectiveness (increase milk production) • Analysis of 4 small clinical studies showed fenugreek may increase milk production if taken after childbirth. Source • Fenugreek may be more effective than pills without active ingredient but may be less effective than Indian borage and palm date. • More evidence is needed to support the above.
Gastric Pain	Mild effectiveness (Reduce symptoms) • One study showed fenugreek may give relief to heart burn, with effective similar to western medicine (Ranitidine 75mg). Source ; more evidence is needed to support the above.
High Cholesterol	Mild effectiveness (Improve test results) • Large number of small studies showed that fenugreek may reduce total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglyceride while it may improve good cholesterol; a smaller number of studies showed that it may not have been effective. Source 1 2 • Apart from small sample, study design of these studies may be improved to become more conclusive. • More evidence needed to support wider use of fenugreek for high cholesterol.
Obesity	Mild effectiveness (promote feeling of fullness after meal and reduce food intake) • Studies showed that fenugreek may increase the sense of fullness and reduce food intake or intake of food group such as fats. Source: 1 2 • None of the studies showed weight reduction and lower dose of fenugreek has been shown to less or not effective than higher dose, (e.g. 8 grammes of fenugreek powder versus 4 grammes). • More evidence needed to support the use of fenugreek in obesity.
Sexual Arousal	Mild effectiveness (Increase survey score and frequency of sex) • 2 clinical studies showed that fenugreek improved survey scores related to measures such as sexual arousal, orgasm (Source: 1 2 ; in a study, it also showed that fenugreek may increase measures such as frequency of sex and morning erection. Source • More studies would be needed to support more wide spread use of fenugreek.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia	Unclear (reduction of symptoms) • One study of 100 subjects showed that fenugreek may not offer better improvement of symptoms as compared to placebo (pills without any active ingredient). Source • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition, commonly affecting elderly men. It is characterised by slow or blocked urine flow and may cause issues such as urinary tract infection and kidney problems.
Male infertility	Unclear effectiveness (increase quality of sperm) • In one study, it was shown that fenugreek seed oil itself may increase in sperm count & sperm mobility and decrease in proportion of defective sperm; meanwhile, other parts of fenugreek did not show any effect. Source • This study was not well-designed and did not have a valid comparator (e.g. placebo (pills without active ingredient); more evidence needed to support the point above.
Menopausal Symptoms	Unclear effectiveness (reduce menopausal symptoms) • One small study showed that fenugreek may better reduce of hot flushes, poor mood, night sweating, problems in falling asleep (as compared to pills without active ingredient) but the improvement was not statistically significant. Source • More evidence may be needed to support wider use of fenugreek for menopause.
Muscle Strength	Unclear effectiveness (improve muscle strength) • One study with a small number of subjects showed that subjects taking fenugreek had a stronger grip than those who took pills without active ingredient. Source ; more evidence is needed to support wider use of fenugreek to improve muscle strength.
Parkinson's disease	Unclear effectiveness • One study showed that adding fenugreek to Parkinson medicine may provide a reduction of movement issue or mood issues (ranging from a reduction to an arrested rise in symptom score). Source ; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Polycystic ovary syndrome	Unclear effectiveness (improve symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) • One study showed that fenugreek may reduce ovary follicles, normalization of menstrual cycle and increase chance of pregnancy. However, the study did not have a comparator such as placebo (pills without active ingredient). Source • Fenugreek may not improve sensitivity to insulin, a condition linked to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Source • More evidence needed to support the point above. • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a female hormonal issue where the woman develops numerous small collection of fluid in her ovary and experiences symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycle, difficulty in conceiving children, facial hair or excessive body hair; it is a risk factor for diabetes.
Prediabetes	Unclear effectiveness • One small study showed that fenugreek may not reduce glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) or blood sugar level. Source ; More evidence needed to support the point above.
Sports Performance	Unclear effectiveness • Two small studies showing slight improvement in parameters such as the number of bench press done and mild reduction of body fat but did not seem to improve overall strength. Source: 1 2 ; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Vaginitis	Unclear effectiveness (symptoms of vaginitis) 2 small studies on fenugreek creams showed that application of fenugreek creams on vagina may reduce symptoms such as dryness, painful urination and increase acidity; however, it does not seem to be more effective than western medicine such as hormone creams. Source: 1 2 • More evidence needed to support the point above. • Vaginitis is a condition where the vagina has swellling and redness; symptoms include itchiness, pain and vaginal discharge.
Cough	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Ezcema	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Hair Loss	Unknown effectiveness • For Alopecia Areata only a condition where immune system attacks hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Gout	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Joint Pain	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Muscle pain	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Stomach Ulcer	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.
Wounds	Unknown effectiveness • Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; more evidence needed to support the point above.

General Safety

• Generally safe when used as food; recognised by US Food Drug Administration as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)

Pregnant/Breastfeeding Women

• Unsafe in pregnant mothers as it may promote uterus contraction; safe in breast feeding mothers especially if use within 21 days

Children

• Generally safe other than causing abnormal body or urine smell and misdiagnosis of maple syrup urine disease

Elderly

• Generally safe but there is a lack of clinical study on elderly to directly prove this

Special to Note

• None to note.

Contraindications

• May interfere with surgery due to its potential to promote bleeding; may also trigger allergy in individuals sensitive to beans and nuts such as soya beans, peanuts, green peass

Side Effects

• Generally safe; side effects may include:
  • Digestive System: bloated feeling, diarrhoea, gas, gastric pain, nausea, stomach cramps; digestive symptoms are more common side effects as compared to other side effects.
  • Hormonal: low blood sugar, especially at high doses
  • Immune System: allergic reaction, rare: shortness of breath/ asthma like attack, blood vessel swelling & serious allergic reaction.
  • Nervous System: dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness; all are rare.
  • Kidney: increase urine production, rare.
  • Others: temporary unusual body odour/ smell of sweat and urine, risk of bacteria contamination; only 1 report and not conclusively proven.

• Medicines
  Medium severity interactions with medicines such as anticlotting medicines, anti-diabetic medicines and asthma medicine (theophylline)
• Supplements
  Small to Medium severity of interactions with Herbs and Supplements with blood sugar lowering effect or blood thinning side effects
• Food
  None known
• Lab Tests
  Due to ability to cause urine to have a maple syrup smell, it may cause misdiagnosis of maple syrup urine disease

• General Adult Dose
  As seed extract: 0.6-1.2 grams to be taken daily for maximum of 3 months As powder: 5 - 10g daily for maximum of 3 years or 100grams for maximum of 20 days
• Diabetes
  As processed powder in capsule: 5 - 100 milligramme daily for maximum of 3 years.
• Dysmenorrhea
  As powder: 1.8-2.7 grammes three times daily for the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle, then followed by 0.9 grammes three times daily till the end of the two menstrual cycles
• Sexual Arousal
  As seed extract: Male: 600 milligramme daily. Female: 300 milligramme twice daily.
• Breast-feeding
  As powder in capsule or tea: 1 to 2 gramme 3 times daily

• General Information
  • Fenugreek has a taste and smells similar to maple syrup.
• How does it work?
  • Fenugreek possesses a variety of effects, such as anti cancer, anti diabetes, antioxidant, male hormone enhancing, cholesterol lowering and weight lowering effects.