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Fenugreek

Supplement botanical men's healthwomen's health
Aka: Trigonella foenum-graecum, Testofen
Brands seen in Singapore: NOW Foods, Swanson Vitamins, Nature's Way, Frontier Co-op, Nutricost
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Testosterone in men; milk supply and cramps unclear
Pros & cons
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
Sources
  1. NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek (last updated February 2025), How Much Do We Know? / What Have We Learned? · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  2. NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, What Do We Know About Safety? · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  3. NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, potential side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  4. NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, pregnancy and breastfeeding · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  5. NIH NCCIH — Fenugreek, interactions with medicines · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  6. Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review (Smith et al., Advances in Nutrition 2021) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  7. Smith et al. 2021 — stated limitations of the herb–testosterone evidence · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  8. Smith et al. 2021 — population the evidence rests on · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Current evidence is largely based on young, nonclinical populations, with 16 out of 32 studies using men <40 y of age.”
  9. 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) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  10. iHerb Singapore — Fenugreek Supplements category page, default (best-selling) order, SGD pricing; no Singapore shipping-restriction notice shown · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.