Fenugreek

Trigonella foenum-graecum · Fenugreek seed

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Glycemic control in diabetes¹ Blood lipid profile² Aging male androgen symptoms³ Perimenopausal symptoms⁴ Polycystic ovary syndrome⁵ Breast milk supply⁶ Primary dysmenorrhea⁷	Pregnancy above food amounts⁸ Legume or peanut allergy⁹ Warfarin use¹⁰ Hormone-sensitive cancer¹⁰

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a clover-like herb whose maple-scented seeds are used as a spice and a traditional medicine⁸. Seed fiber and saponins are thought to slow gut absorption of glucose and cholesterol¹⁰. One use is testosterone support in aging men: a specialised seed extract raised testosterone and eased age-related androgen symptoms in healthy men aged 43 to 70³. It is also taken for perimenopausal symptoms, polycystic ovary syndrome⁵, lactation, and dysmenorrhea.

Meta-analyses of randomized trials found lower glycated hemoglobin, though trial quality and heterogeneity limit confidence^{1, 11, 12}. They also found lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol^{2, 11, 13}. Standardized extracts raised testosterone in some trials of middle-aged and older men³, while lactation and dysmenorrhea trials are low-certainty. A 2026 network meta-analysis of randomized trials in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease ranked fenugreek favorably for liver fat endpoints, though the authors judged the overall evidence uncertain¹⁴. Products come as capsules, powders, teas, and liquids; see Form comparison.

The most consequential caution is pregnancy: amounts above those in food have been linked to birth defects in animals and people⁸. The European Medicines Agency traditional-use monograph advises close glycemic monitoring in patients treated for diabetes⁹, and Health Canada labels ask for a practitioner's advice before use in diabetes¹⁵.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

62 sources, 53 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources