Traditional Chinese andIndian medicineuse fenugreek to improve digestive health and increase metabolism.You may have seen it advertised for these purposes in health food stores.

Studies have suggested that fenugreek may have a variety of other health benefits, including:

This article looks at fenugreek and its effect on cholesterol. It also discusses some of the potential side effects of fenugreek.

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High Angle View Of Fenugreek Seeds On Vintage Spoon At Table

Studies on Fenugreek and Cholesterol

Proponents say fenugreek can help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There are only a few small studies that have looked into this effect.

A 2020 review analyzed the methods and results of 15 studies of fenugreek. Participants were either healthy, diabetic, or had high blood lipids such as high cholesterol. Fenugreek was given in different forms, such as powdered leaves, seed extract, or seed powder. There were large differences in the lengths of the studies, from two hours to three years.

Review authors concluded that there was some evidence that taking fenugreek supplements helps lowertotal cholesterolandtriglycerides. However, the study’s authors also said that more high-quality research is needed to confirm the findings.

Researchers don’t know how fenugreek might lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. One theory is that fenugreek may have the ability to increase the number of LDL receptors in the liver. These are proteins that let cholesterol enter cells. An increase in LDL receptors could help cells remove LDL from the bloodstream.

Fenugreek also appears to reduce the accumulation of fat in the body. But this conclusion is based on animal studies, so it is not clear that it would have the same effect in people.

If you have high cholesterol, the American Heart Association recommends eating a diet low in saturated fat. For some patients, however, medication may be needed. Statins like Lipitor (atorvastatin) are usually the first choice for people who have cholesterol levels that can’t be controlled with lifestyle changes.

Benefits of Fenugreek

Side Effects of Fenugreek

Some studies suggest that fenugreek can help slightly improve your lipid profile. More research is needed, though, before it can be recommended as a way to lower cholesterol. Don’t rely on fenugreek alone if you need to lower your triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

In studies, participants who took fenugreek didn’t seem to experience many side effects. Most appeared to tolerate it well. The most common side effects were:

Some studies also noted reduced blood sugar and potassium levels in people taking fenugreek supplements.

Before taking fenugreek or any other supplement, talk to your healthcare provider.

Summary

Fenugreek is said to have a number of health effects. Limited research suggests it may help lower total cholesterol and triglycerides. It’s important to note, though, that more research needs to be done before fenugreek can be recommended as part of any cholesterol-lowering plan.

Fenugreek may have side effects, like nausea or bloating. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before you decide to try taking fenugreek supplements.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q.Fenugreek cultivation with emphasis on historical aspects and its uses in traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical science.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2021;21(6):724-30. doi:10.2174/1389557520666201127104907Ranade M, Mudgalkar N.A simple dietary addition of fenugreek seed leads to the reduction in blood glucose levels: a parallel group, randomized single-blind trial.Ayu. 2017;38(1-2):24. doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_209_15Basu SK.Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): a phytochemically-rich chemurgic plant with agronomic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential.Livest Res Rural Dev. 2015;27(11).Schulz RM, Ahuja NK, Slavin JL.Effectiveness of nutritional ingredients on upper gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):672. doi:10.3390/nu14030672Heshmat‐Ghahdarijani K, Mashayekhiasl N, Amerizadeh A, Teimouri Jervekani Z, Sadeghi M.Effect of fenugreek consumption on serum lipid profile: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Phytother Res. 2020;34(9):2230-45. doi:10.1002/ptr.6690Kumar P, Bhandari U, Jamadagni S.Fenugreek seed extract inhibit fat accumulation and ameliorates dyslipidemia in high fat diet-induced obese rats.BioMed Res Int. 2014;2014. doi:10.1155/2014/606021American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.Haber SL, Keonavong J.Fenugreek use in patients with diabetes mellitus.Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013;70(14):1196-203. doi:10.2146/ajhp120523Additional ReadingRouhi-Boroujeni H, Rouhi-Boroujeni H, Heidarian E, Mohammadizadeh F, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Herbs with anti-lipid effects and their interactions with statins as a chemical anti-hyperlipidemia group drugs: a systematic review.ARYA Atheroscler. 2015;11(4):244.Shari FH, Ramadhan HH, Mohammed RN, Al Bahadily DC.Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of fenugreek-nigella sativa combination on diabetic patients in Iraq.Syst Rev Pharm. 2020;11(6). doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1327200

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q.Fenugreek cultivation with emphasis on historical aspects and its uses in traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical science.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2021;21(6):724-30. doi:10.2174/1389557520666201127104907Ranade M, Mudgalkar N.A simple dietary addition of fenugreek seed leads to the reduction in blood glucose levels: a parallel group, randomized single-blind trial.Ayu. 2017;38(1-2):24. doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_209_15Basu SK.Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): a phytochemically-rich chemurgic plant with agronomic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential.Livest Res Rural Dev. 2015;27(11).Schulz RM, Ahuja NK, Slavin JL.Effectiveness of nutritional ingredients on upper gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):672. doi:10.3390/nu14030672Heshmat‐Ghahdarijani K, Mashayekhiasl N, Amerizadeh A, Teimouri Jervekani Z, Sadeghi M.Effect of fenugreek consumption on serum lipid profile: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Phytother Res. 2020;34(9):2230-45. doi:10.1002/ptr.6690Kumar P, Bhandari U, Jamadagni S.Fenugreek seed extract inhibit fat accumulation and ameliorates dyslipidemia in high fat diet-induced obese rats.BioMed Res Int. 2014;2014. doi:10.1155/2014/606021American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.Haber SL, Keonavong J.Fenugreek use in patients with diabetes mellitus.Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013;70(14):1196-203. doi:10.2146/ajhp120523Additional ReadingRouhi-Boroujeni H, Rouhi-Boroujeni H, Heidarian E, Mohammadizadeh F, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Herbs with anti-lipid effects and their interactions with statins as a chemical anti-hyperlipidemia group drugs: a systematic review.ARYA Atheroscler. 2015;11(4):244.Shari FH, Ramadhan HH, Mohammed RN, Al Bahadily DC.Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of fenugreek-nigella sativa combination on diabetic patients in Iraq.Syst Rev Pharm. 2020;11(6). doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1327200

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q.Fenugreek cultivation with emphasis on historical aspects and its uses in traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical science.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2021;21(6):724-30. doi:10.2174/1389557520666201127104907Ranade M, Mudgalkar N.A simple dietary addition of fenugreek seed leads to the reduction in blood glucose levels: a parallel group, randomized single-blind trial.Ayu. 2017;38(1-2):24. doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_209_15Basu SK.Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): a phytochemically-rich chemurgic plant with agronomic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential.Livest Res Rural Dev. 2015;27(11).Schulz RM, Ahuja NK, Slavin JL.Effectiveness of nutritional ingredients on upper gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):672. doi:10.3390/nu14030672Heshmat‐Ghahdarijani K, Mashayekhiasl N, Amerizadeh A, Teimouri Jervekani Z, Sadeghi M.Effect of fenugreek consumption on serum lipid profile: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Phytother Res. 2020;34(9):2230-45. doi:10.1002/ptr.6690Kumar P, Bhandari U, Jamadagni S.Fenugreek seed extract inhibit fat accumulation and ameliorates dyslipidemia in high fat diet-induced obese rats.BioMed Res Int. 2014;2014. doi:10.1155/2014/606021American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.Haber SL, Keonavong J.Fenugreek use in patients with diabetes mellitus.Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013;70(14):1196-203. doi:10.2146/ajhp120523

Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q.Fenugreek cultivation with emphasis on historical aspects and its uses in traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical science.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2021;21(6):724-30. doi:10.2174/1389557520666201127104907

Ranade M, Mudgalkar N.A simple dietary addition of fenugreek seed leads to the reduction in blood glucose levels: a parallel group, randomized single-blind trial.Ayu. 2017;38(1-2):24. doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_209_15

Basu SK.Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): a phytochemically-rich chemurgic plant with agronomic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential.Livest Res Rural Dev. 2015;27(11).

Schulz RM, Ahuja NK, Slavin JL.Effectiveness of nutritional ingredients on upper gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):672. doi:10.3390/nu14030672

Heshmat‐Ghahdarijani K, Mashayekhiasl N, Amerizadeh A, Teimouri Jervekani Z, Sadeghi M.Effect of fenugreek consumption on serum lipid profile: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Phytother Res. 2020;34(9):2230-45. doi:10.1002/ptr.6690

Kumar P, Bhandari U, Jamadagni S.Fenugreek seed extract inhibit fat accumulation and ameliorates dyslipidemia in high fat diet-induced obese rats.BioMed Res Int. 2014;2014. doi:10.1155/2014/606021

American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.

Haber SL, Keonavong J.Fenugreek use in patients with diabetes mellitus.Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013;70(14):1196-203. doi:10.2146/ajhp120523

Rouhi-Boroujeni H, Rouhi-Boroujeni H, Heidarian E, Mohammadizadeh F, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Herbs with anti-lipid effects and their interactions with statins as a chemical anti-hyperlipidemia group drugs: a systematic review.ARYA Atheroscler. 2015;11(4):244.Shari FH, Ramadhan HH, Mohammed RN, Al Bahadily DC.Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of fenugreek-nigella sativa combination on diabetic patients in Iraq.Syst Rev Pharm. 2020;11(6). doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1327200

Rouhi-Boroujeni H, Rouhi-Boroujeni H, Heidarian E, Mohammadizadeh F, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Herbs with anti-lipid effects and their interactions with statins as a chemical anti-hyperlipidemia group drugs: a systematic review.ARYA Atheroscler. 2015;11(4):244.

Shari FH, Ramadhan HH, Mohammed RN, Al Bahadily DC.Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of fenugreek-nigella sativa combination on diabetic patients in Iraq.Syst Rev Pharm. 2020;11(6). doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1327200

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