{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"fenugreek","kind":"supplement","name":"fenugreek","aliases":["Trigonella foenum-graecum","Testofen"],"brands_sg":["NOW Foods","Swanson Vitamins","Nature's Way","Frontier Co-op","Nutricost"],"class":"botanical","tags":["mens-health","womens-health"],"use_for":"testosterone in men; milk supply and cramps unclear","use_after":null,"use_duration":null,"take_with":null,"pros":["one systematic review: seed extract raised testosterone","food amounts believed safe for adults and children","nccih: possibly safe for adults in larger amounts"],"cons":["diabetes or cramps: not enough high-quality evidence","diarrhoea, nausea; large doses can drop blood sugar","not safe in pregnancy above food amounts"],"dose_note":"nccih gives no dose for fenugreek; the 2021 systematic review notes that dosages and extracts varied between trials and that most participants were men under 40, so no single figure carries across products — as directed on the label or by your pharmacist or doctor","dosage":{"ul":null,"unit":"mg","fda_dv":null,"rda_ai":null,"ul_status":"none_established","population":"general adult","hsa_max_daily":null},"ul_status":"none_established","sg_class":null,"cautions":["pregnancy — nccih: not safe above food amounts, birth-defect risk linked","breastfeeding — little is known about amounts larger than in food","allergy-prone — nccih reports serious allergic reactions in some people","on any medicine — nccih: some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways"],"clashes":[{"src":["nccih_fenugreek_meds"],"note":"nccih: talk with your health care provider first; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways","with":"medicines generally"}],"sources":[{"id":"nccih_fenugreek","url":"https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek","label":"NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek (last updated February 2025), How Much Do We Know? / What Have We Learned?","quote":"There is not enough high-quality evidence to determine whether fenugreek is useful for diabetes or menstrual cramps. A few studies have evaluated the use of fenugreek to increase milk supply in breastfeeding women, with mixed results.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nccih_fenugreek_safety","url":"https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek","label":"NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, What Do We Know About Safety?","quote":"Fenugreek is believed to be safe for adults and children in the amounts commonly found in foods. It is possibly safe for adults in larger amounts.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nccih_fenugreek_ae","url":"https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek","label":"NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, potential side effects","quote":"Potential side effects of fenugreek include diarrhea, nausea, and other digestive tract symptoms. Large doses may cause a harmful drop in blood sugar. Fenugreek can cause allergic reactions, including serious reactions, in some people.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nccih_fenugreek_pregnancy","url":"https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek","label":"NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, pregnancy and breastfeeding","quote":"Fenugreek is not safe for use during pregnancy in amounts greater than those found in food; its use has been linked to increased risks of birth defects in both animals and people.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nccih_fenugreek_meds","url":"https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek","label":"NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, interactions with medicines","quote":"If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using fenugreek or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"smith2021","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/MED/33150931","label":"Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review (Smith et al., Advances in Nutrition 2021)","quote":"The main findings of this review indicate that 2 herbal extracts, fenugreek seed extracts and ashwagandha root and root/leaf extracts, have positive effects on testosterone concentrations in men.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"smith2021_limits","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/MED/33150931","label":"Smith et al. 2021 — stated limitations of the herb–testosterone evidence","quote":"Conclusions are moderated by the paucity of research for many herbs, the variation in dosages and extracts used, small sample sizes, and the heterogeneity of study characteristics.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"smith2021_pop","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/MED/33150931","label":"Smith et al. 2021 — population the evidence rests on","quote":"Current evidence is largely based on young, nonclinical populations, with 16 out of 32 studies using men <40 y of age.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_prohibited_2025","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-chp-prohibited-restricted-ing-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev 001 (Oct 2025), Annexes A and B — fenugreek / Trigonella foenum-graecum not listed in Annex A or B (full text searched)","quote":"The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"iherb_sg","url":"https://sg.iherb.com/c/fenugreek","label":"iHerb Singapore — Fenugreek Supplements category page, default (best-selling) order, SGD pricing; no Singapore shipping-restriction notice shown","quote":"NOW Foods, Fenugreek, 500 mg, 100 Veg Capsules … Swanson Vitamins, Full Spectrum® Fenugreek Seed … Nature's Way, Fenugreek Seed … Frontier Co-op, Organic Whole Fenugreek Seed … Nutricost, Fenugreek","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:19.87501+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}