Fenugreek

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Cholesterol levels in adults²

  In adults, fenugreek supplements lowered cholesterol and triglycerides and raised good cholesterol, but weight stayed the same.

• Benefit

  Male hormone levels³

  In men, fenugreek extract supplements raised total testosterone levels in the blood in the studies reviewed.

• Benefit

  Memory and mood in dementia⁴

  In adults with mild-to-moderate memory loss, fenugreek seed extract improved memory, quality of life, and depression over four months.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar and blood pressure⁵

  In people with type 2 diabetes, fenugreek seed powder lowered fasting blood sugar and systolic blood pressure.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after bread⁶

  Adding fenugreek seed powder to buns and flatbreads lowered the rise in blood sugar in people who ate them.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar in diabetes⁷

  In people with type 2 diabetes, fenugreek seeds lowered blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

• Benefit

  Heartburn relief⁸

  In people with frequent heartburn, taking fenugreek fiber before meals lessened symptoms and cut antacid use.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Blood sugar and fats¹⁰

  Fenugreek seeds contain compounds that may help control blood sugar and fats, but scientists do not yet know enough.

• Benefit

  Heart and blood sugar health¹¹

  Fenugreek seeds and leaves contain natural compounds that may help with blood sugar, cholesterol and inflammation.

• Open question

  Blood sugar and lactation¹²

  Fenugreek is used in food for flavour, and its compounds are studied for effects like blood sugar and milk supply.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar and cholesterol¹³

  Fenugreek is a spice long used in cooking and traditional medicine, studied for helping with blood sugar and cholesterol.

Allergies and intolerances

These are about people with an allergy, an intolerance or coeliac disease. The signal is about the ingredient itself, and these are about the person eating it, so the signal does not count them.

• Peanut allergy cross-reaction⁹

  Some people allergic to peanuts also react to fenugreek, because fenugreek proteins closely resemble peanut allergens.

How it’s made and used

• Health and medicinal benefits¹⁴

  Fenugreek is a spice used in cooking and also traditionally used as a medicine for various ailments.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.