Health Benefits of Fenugreek Herb

Photo credit Arizona Herb Association

What is Fenugreek?

Fenugreek, scientifically known as Trigonella foenum-graecum, is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. 

 Fenugreek is an annual herb with green leaves and white flowers that develop into pods containing small, golden-brown seeds. It grows best in warm climates and is native to the Mediterranean region, Western Asia, and South Asia. Fenugreek is cultivated for its seeds and leaves, which are used as a culinary spice and medicinal herb.

Primary Compounds

The primary bioactive compounds found in fenugreek seeds include:

- Trigonelline

- Galactomannan

- Diosgenin

- Flavonoids

- Alkaloids

- Saponins

 Traditional Use of Fenugreek

 Fenugreek has been used in traditional medicines around the world for various purposes:

Ayurvedic medicine

Fenugreek has been used in Ayurveda to improve digestion, regulate blood sugar levels, and promote lactation.

Traditional Chinese medicine

Fenugreek has been used in TCM to tonify the kidneys, invigorate yang energy, and expel cold.

Middle Eastern medicine

Fenugreek has used to treat digestive issues, increase appetite, and enhance libido.

Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Blood Sugar Control: Fenugreek seeds contain soluble fiber and compounds like trigonelline and galactomannan, which may help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates and improving insulin sensitivity.

Digestive Health: Fenugreek is often used to alleviate digestive issues such as indigestion, constipation, and bloating due to its high fiber content and mucilage properties, which can promote regular bowel movements and soothe gastrointestinal discomfort.

Breast Milk Production: Fenugreek seeds are traditionally used to promote lactation in breastfeeding mothers. They contain compounds that mimic estrogen and may help stimulate milk production.

Libido Enhancement: Fenugreek has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and to enhance libido in both men and women. Some studies suggest that fenugreek supplementation may improve sexual function and desire.

Scientific Research

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

In a 2023 study from India, 107 women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) were tested for 12 weeks. They were given 1,000 milligrams of a fenugreek extract. The study found those taking the extract saw significant recovery from PCOS symptoms, and reductions in cyst size. The researchers concluded:

"Furocyst® treatment induced >40% reduction of mean cyst sizes in both ovaries with corresponding reduction of in ovarian volumes. LH:FSH ratio was also significantly improved with corresponding reduction in total testosterone and prolactin levels. As a result of improvement in endocrine function, menstrual cycle became regular in the subjects. Furocyst® also reduced the severity of other associated ailments such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and improved liver function significantly."

Other studies have confirmed these sorts of findings.

Fenugreek and Diabetes

Researchers have repeatedly found that Fenugreek herb reduced and balanced blood sugar. This was illustrated in a 2023 meta-analysis study of 10 clinical studies that tested 706 diabetes patients.

The meta-analysis found that Fenugreek significantly decreased fasting blood sugar, improved glucose tolerance, and normalized levels of HbA1c among the patients.

Fenugreek also improved levels of triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol among the studies.

Fenugreek also helps repair blood vessel damage that can happen with diabetes. A 2024 study found that a fenugreek extract significantly improved endothelial dysfunction (ED).

Fenugreek and Menopause

What is menopause?

Many women will experience uncomfortable symptoms as a result of menopause. Symptoms include:

• Hot flushes (or flashes)
• Night sweats
• Skin dryness
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Breathing problems
• Joint and/or muscle pain
• Numbness
• Vaginal changes
• Bleeding issues
• Urogenital complaints
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Palpitations
• Depression
• Mood changes
• Irritability

These symptoms are accompanied by a decrease in inhibin, leading to increased levels of follicular-stimulating hormone and androgens, and a drop in estrogen in the form of estradiol. When blood estradiol levels fall, estrogen receptors on the surface of cells lay empty – producing some dysfunction within the cells.

Most treatments to this issue is to artificially increase the circulation of estrodiol in the blood – through the prescription of synthesized or isolated estrogen and progesterone. Many reach for alternative forms of these in the form of bio-identical hormones – primarily sourced from horse urine.

But HRT also comes with risks, as we’ve discussed elsewhere. They include a greater risk of cancer and cardiovascular conditions. And though many swear by bio-identical forms of HRT, there is no solid evidence that this reduces the risk of HRT-related heart conditions and cancer. (Not including the yuk factor of taking an extract of horse urine.)

What about natural alternatives? We have laid out some alternatives elsewhere in this publication. Now we can add another:

Fenugreek extract clinically tested for menopause

The research comes from the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India. In this randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled study, 88 women with an average age of 59 were tested for three months. Each of the women had clinically significant (moderate to severe) menopausal discomforts including those listed above.

The women were divided into two groups. One group was given a daily dose of 1,000 milligrams per day of a standardized extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in the form of a supplement called FenuSMART™. The other group was given an inactive placebo.

To gauge their menopause discomforts before and after the trial period, the researchers utilized clinical examinations and blood testing, the Greene Climacteric Scale and the Short-form 36 for quality-of-life testing.

After the 90-day treatment period, blood estrogen levels more than doubled on average among the 44 fenugreek-treated women. Their blood estradiol levels went from 131.22 to 288.46 pmol/Liter.

The reduction of critical symptoms among the fenugreek group included a 57 percent drop in night sweats, 68 percent drop in mood swings, 75 percent drop in insomnia and 54 percent drop in headaches.

Furthermore, 32 percent of the women in the treatment group reported that their hot flushes had completely disappeared. The other women in the fenugreek group experienced a reduction of hot flushes from three to five times a day at the beginning of the study to one to two times per day.

The researchers also found the fenugreek decreased other symptoms related to menopause.

Greene Climacteric Scale scores went down from 34.83 in the beginning to 24.82 by the end of 45 days and 19.64 after 90 days. That’s close to a 50 percent drop in symptoms. The placebo group did not have a significant decrease in GCS scores or other symptom scores.

As a whole, vasomotor scores (hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia) went down significantly in the fenugreek group. Those scores dropped from 4.35 to 2.21, compared to the placebo group’s change from 4.32 to 4.28.

Anxiety scores dropped more than half, from 1.85 to 0.76 in the fenugreek group, compared to 1.71 to 1.65 in the placebo group.

Depression scores went from 1.74 to 0.91 in the fenugreek group, compared to 1.76 to 1.82 in the placebo group.

Other physical symptom scores went down from 9.85 to 5.15 in the fenugreek group, compared to 9.74 to 8.21 in the placebo group.

These reductions that the fenugreek supplement made a significant difference in symptoms.

Furthermore, the fenugreek treatment did not result in any adverse side effects among the women. The researchers reported:

“The present study involving a supplementation of 1000 mg fenugreek for 90 days did not produce any obvious signs of toxicity or adverse effects, as evident from the haematology and biochemical data in comparison with the placebo group.”

Instead of adverse side effects, the fenugreek treatment resulted in positive side effects. For those with cholesterol issues, the fenugreek therapy reduced LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.

The researchers wrote:

“The analysis of the GCS and SF-36 questionnaires pertaining to the adverse climacteric symptoms and quality of life of the postmenopausal women participated in the present study demonstrated a significant improvement and positive effect of the novel formulation of the Fenugreek supplement in the management of postmenopausal discomforts and hence in the quality of life.”

What makes Fenugreek so special for menopause?

Research has established that fenugreek contains beneficial steroidal saponins, which modulate hormones. Steroidal saponins in fenugreek include diosgenin, protodioscin and yamogenin. Fenugreek also contains trigonellin, hydroxyisoleucine, galactomannans and numerous polyphenols.

In addition to the steroidal affects, trigonellin and hydroxyisoleucine have the distinction of binding to estrogen receptors. When estrogen receptors are bound, the cells do not respond with the same dysfunction as when they are left unbound.

These and other compounds in fenugreek give it a special quality that pharmaceuticals cannot compete with: The ability to naturally modulate the hormonal system as needed.

For example, in those women who had higher estrogen levels, the fenugreek therapy did not boost estradiol levels much. For those with lower levels, the therapy significantly increased estadiol levels. The researchers wrote:

“The rate of increase of estradiol among the individuals having varying baseline levels was found to be different, with a relatively low enhancement among those who are having high levels of baseline estradiol levels and vice versa.”

The fenugreek also stabilized the women’s calcium levels. They stated:

“Fenugreek supplementation was also found to have a beneficial effect in the management of healthy serum calcium levels (8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL).”

This ‘smart’ ability of this medicinal herb has lent itself to other benefits. These include reducing hyperglycemia and reducing insulin resistance. Fenugreek has also been found to help Parkinson’s patients when used with L-dopa therapy.

REFERENCES:

Shamshad Begum, S., Jayalakshmi, H. K., Vidyavathi, H. G., Gopakumar, G., Abin, I., Balu, M., Geetha, K., Suresha, S. V., Vasundhara, M., and Krishnakumar, I. M. A Novel Extract of Fenugreek Husk (FenuSMART™) Alleviates Postmenopausal Symptoms and Helps to Establish the Hormonal Balance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Phytother. Res., 2016 July. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5680.

Dietz BM, Hajirahimkhan A, Dunlap TL, Bolton JL. Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women’s Health. Pharmacol Rev. 2016 Oct;68(4):1026-1073.

Kim J, Noh W, Kim A, Choi Y, Kim YS. The Effect of Fenugreek in Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Sep 12;24(18):13999. doi: 10.3390/ijms241813999. 

Sankhwar P, Jaiswar SP, Yadav S, Awasthi V, Goel A, Kumar P, Banik SP, Bagchi M, Bagchi D. Beneficial Effects of a Novel Fenugreek Seed Extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Furocyst®) in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Follow-up Compliance Clinical Investigation. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2023 Sep-Oct;42(7):691-699. doi: 10.1080/27697061.2022.2145526. 

Haxhiraj M, White K, Terry C. The Role of Fenugreek in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jun 26;25(13):6987. doi: 10.3390/ijms25136987. 

Qiu D, Hu J, Zhang S, Cai W, Miao J, Li P, Jiang W. Fenugreek extract improves diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction via the arginase 1 pathway. Food Funct. 2024 Apr 2;15(7):3446-3462. doi: 10.1039/d3fo04283a.