Symptoms of menopause including vasomotor symptoms (e.g. hot flushes and night sweats) generally occur between the ages of 40 and 58 years old.
These symptoms of menopause can last anywhere from 5 to 8 years having a lasting impact on quality of life.
Recent estimates suggest that up to 50% of women use some form of integrative medicine such as soy isoflavones to help control these symptoms.
Many of these botanical options such as soy and red clover contain phytoestrogens which are viewed by patients and some doctors as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Another name for Trigonella foenum-graecum is fenugreek. 
A previous clinical trial has shown that fenugreek had a positive impact in patients experiencing menopause.
Fenugreek is a traditional herb used by many different cultures for controlling infections (i.e. anti-microbial), reducing lipids and cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, liver protectant (i.e. hepatoprotecant), and gastric stimulant properties.
A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research reported on the results of Trigonella foenum-graecum for controlling symptoms of menopause.
Here are the study details
Study design: double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Patients: Women aged 40 to 65 years of age with symptoms of hot flushes, night sweats, irregular menstrual cycles were enrolled in the study
Fenugreek product: 300 mg of a proprietary extract of T. foenum-graecum de-husked seed extract, Libifem®, [dry concentrate 33:1, equivalent to 9.9-g dry herb, standardized for a minimum of 50% content of furostanol saponins]
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Study agent administration: Participants were randomly allocated (blinded) to the active or placebo group and were instructed to take 600 mg per/day (1 × 300 mg capsule b.i.d.) with food, at breakfast and with evening meals for 12-weeks duration.
Primary outcome: The primary outcome measure was efficacy of treatment for menopausal symptoms using the MENQOL questionnaire and also a 7-day diary of the number of hot flushes and night sweats recorded by participants.
Here are the study results
– 104 patients completed the study
– Average age of patients was 53 years old.
– Average BMI was 27.2 in the Fenugreek group and 26.7 in the placebo group.
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– Vasomotor symptoms: improved with Fenugreek after 12 weeks 3.3 compared to 5.0 with placebo.
– Improvements were also observed with Fenugreek compared to placebo for psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms.
Here is what the authors of the study had to say
In summary, this study suggests that this proprietary T. foenum-graecum de-husked seed extract is an effective treatment for reducing vasomotor symptoms and associated menopausal symptoms in otherwise healthy women.
And
Longer duration studies in human populations are required to establish long-term reproductive and hormonal safety of T. foenum-graecum.
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Take away message
This was the first double blind placebo controlled study to evaluated Fenugreek for controlling menopause symptoms. The results suggest that Trigonella foenum-graecum, also known as fenugreek, significantly reduced symptoms of menopause. The results of this clinical trial are consistent with other clinical trials suggesting that Fenugreek can have an impact on serum estradiol levels.
Reference
Efficacy of a Proprietary Trigonella foenum-graecum L. De-Husked Seed Extract in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms in Otherwise Healthy Women: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Phytotherapy Research. 2017 Sep;31(9):1316-1322.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Clinical Trials, Menopause, Menstrual Cycle, Women's Health