Red Clover
Background
- Like peas and beans, red clover belongs to the family of plants called legumes. Red clover contains substances called isoflavones—compounds that are structurally related/similar to estrogen. Red clover supplements have been promoted for menopause symptoms and osteoporosis.
- Historically, red clover was used for asthma, whooping cough, cancer, and gout. Today, extracts from red clover are most often promoted for menopause symptoms, high cholesterol levels, or osteoporosis.
- Red clover has been studied in people, but the research hasn’t shown clear benefits for any health condition.
Health Benefits
- Studies on the effects of red clover on menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and on blood levels of cholesterol and other lipids have had inconsistent results.
- Only a small amount of research has been done on the effects of red clover on bone density in menopausal women, and the results have been inconsistent.
Safety information
- Red clover extracts have been used in clinical studies for as long as 3 years with apparent safety.
- Women should not take red clover supplements during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Disclaimer
- Talk to your health care providers about any complementary health approaches before you use. It may be contraindicated with any medications you are currently taking.