Fenugreek
HerbalAlso called · 8 names▾▴
fenugreek seed, fenugreek seeds, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Trigonella foenumgraecum, Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, fenugreek powder, foenugreek
Herbal supplement (milk supply)
Herbs and supplements are not FDA-approved before sale. About these sources
- Tea
- Capsule/tablet
- Liquid extract
- Topical
- Food / spice
- Powder
Research strength: 2 / 5
According to NCCIH, amounts greater than those found in food have been linked to birth-defect risk in people and animals. Radouani et al. (2015) reported fenugreek use in 8 of 68 neural-tube-defect cases and 1 of 100 controls, an association that does not establish cause. Khalki et al. (2010) and Oufquir et al. (2020) reported reproductive or developmental effects after seed extracts in mice, but these findings do not establish human risk at food amounts. EMA's 2026 public summary says not to use fenugreek seed medicines during pregnancy. The cited sources do not provide trimester-specific human results. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14
Sources
- NCCIH: FenugreekUS government
- European Medicines Agency: European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semenEU agencyEuropean guidance
- EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the PublicEU agencyEuropean guidance
- Radouani et al. (2015), Moroccan neural tube defect case-control studyUS government
- Khalki et al. (2010), fenugreek developmental toxicity in miceUS government
- Oufquir et al. (2020), sprouted-seed extract study in miceUS government
- Forci et al. (2021), Moroccan neural tube defect case seriesUS government
- Ech-Chebab et al. (2026), Moroccan spina bifida case seriesUS government
Research strength: 2 / 5
According to NCCIH, amounts greater than those found in food have been linked to birth-defect risk in people and animals. Radouani et al. (2015) reported fenugreek use in 8 of 68 neural-tube-defect cases and 1 of 100 controls, an association that does not establish cause. Khalki et al. (2010) and Oufquir et al. (2020) reported reproductive or developmental effects after seed extracts in mice, but these findings do not establish human risk at food amounts. EMA's 2026 public summary says not to use fenugreek seed medicines during pregnancy. The cited sources do not provide trimester-specific human results. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14
Sources
- NCCIH: FenugreekUS government
- European Medicines Agency: European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semenEU agencyEuropean guidance
- EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the PublicEU agencyEuropean guidance
- Radouani et al. (2015), Moroccan neural tube defect case-control studyUS government
- Khalki et al. (2010), fenugreek developmental toxicity in miceUS government
- Oufquir et al. (2020), sprouted-seed extract study in miceUS government
- Forci et al. (2021), Moroccan neural tube defect case seriesUS government
- Ech-Chebab et al. (2026), Moroccan spina bifida case seriesUS government
Research strength: 2 / 5
According to NCCIH, amounts greater than those found in food have been linked to birth-defect risk in people and animals. Radouani et al. (2015) reported fenugreek use in 8 of 68 neural-tube-defect cases and 1 of 100 controls, an association that does not establish cause. Khalki et al. (2010) and Oufquir et al. (2020) reported reproductive or developmental effects after seed extracts in mice, but these findings do not establish human risk at food amounts. EMA's 2026 public summary says not to use fenugreek seed medicines during pregnancy. The cited sources do not provide trimester-specific human results. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14
Sources
- NCCIH: FenugreekUS government
- European Medicines Agency: European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semenEU agencyEuropean guidance
- EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the PublicEU agencyEuropean guidance
- Radouani et al. (2015), Moroccan neural tube defect case-control studyUS government
- Khalki et al. (2010), fenugreek developmental toxicity in miceUS government
- Oufquir et al. (2020), sprouted-seed extract study in miceUS government
- Forci et al. (2021), Moroccan neural tube defect case seriesUS government
- Ech-Chebab et al. (2026), Moroccan spina bifida case seriesUS government
Fenugreek — Breastfeeding
Research strength: 2 / 5
LactMed describes traditional use to raise milk supply but reports mixed results, often from products with several herbs. Rouhi et al. (2025) studied 68 mothers of preterm infants and found higher milk volume on day 7, but not day 15, with no significant difference in infant weight. Cragg et al. (2026) found very-low-certainty evidence from two very small fenugreek trials in mothers of preterm infants. LactMed says fenugreek components have not been measured in human milk and infant data are limited. EMA's public summary says not to use medicinal fenugreek seed products while breastfeeding; food use is outside the scope of that medicines summary. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14
Sources
- LactMed (NIH): FenugreekUS government
- EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the PublicEU agencyEuropean guidance
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee Opinion No. 820: Breastfeeding Challenges
- Cochrane Review: Oral galactagogues for increasing breast milk productionResearch review
- Cragg et al. (2026), systematic review of herbal galactagogues in mothers of preterm infantsUS government
- Rouhi et al. (2025), randomized fenugreek trial in mothers of preterm infantsUS government
- Wagner et al. (2019), Mother's Milk tea randomized trialUS government
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy evidence is limited and does not establish a cause or an absolute risk. Radouani et al. (2015) reported fenugreek use in 8 of 68 neural-tube-defect cases and 1 of 100 controls. This was a case-control association, not a causal result. Forci et al. (2021) recorded fenugreek use in 10 of 44 mothers in a neural-tube-defect case series with no unaffected comparison group. Ech-Chebab et al. (2026) reported fenugreek in 4 of 33 maternal histories in a spina-bifida series and said it warrants further investigation. In mice, Khalki et al. (2010) reported fetal deaths, smaller litters, lower fetal weight, and more morphological abnormalities after aqueous seed extract at 500 or 1,000 mg/kg/day. Oufquir et al. (2020) reported lower fertility, spontaneous abortion, pup mortality, and behavioral effects after sprouted-seed extract at 200 to 1,000 mg/kg/day. Animal findings do not establish human risk at food amounts. NCCIH links use above food amounts with birth-defect risk in people and animals. EMA's 2021 monograph reports limited human data and reproductive toxicity in animals; its 2026 public summary says not to use medicinal seed products during pregnancy. The reviewed sources do not provide trimester-specific human results or an absolute human risk estimate.
Breastfeeding
LactMed describes long-standing traditional use as a galactagogue, but reports mixed results and notes that some studies tested combinations, so their effects cannot be assigned to fenugreek alone. LactMed says no fenugreek components have been measured in human milk after ingestion and reports limited infant information. A 2025 triple-blind randomized trial of 68 mothers of preterm infants used fenugreek capsules, about 500 mg three times daily from postpartum day 5 through day 14. Milk volume was higher on day 7, but not on day 15; infant weight did not differ significantly, and participants reported no side effects. Wagner et al. (2019) studied a multi-herb tea with 35 mg of fenugreek per tea bag in 60 mother-infant pairs; infant symptoms and growth did not differ between groups, but the trial cannot isolate fenugreek. Cochrane (2020) identified 41 galactagogue trials and rated the overall evidence low to very low, with very uncertain findings for natural products. Cragg et al. (2026) found only two extremely small fenugreek trials in mothers of preterm infants and judged the evidence very low certainty; its search ended before the 2025 trial. EMA's monograph describes limited lactation data, and its 2026 public summary says not to use medicinal seed products while breastfeeding. These data do not establish human milk transfer or a complete infant outcome profile.
Fenugreek is the seed of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. EMA describes medicinal seed products as comminuted or powdered seed and seed extracts. Its public summary excludes food and food supplements from the medicinal product assessment. NCCIH distinguishes amounts found in food from higher supplement amounts.
What was tested
Pregnancy evidence includes a Moroccan case-control study, later case-only series, and mouse studies of aqueous seed or sprouted-seed extracts; no source provides a human dose-specific or trimester-specific estimate. Breastfeeding evidence includes small trials of fenugreek capsules, multi-herb products, and reviews of natural galactagogues. The 2025 trial tested capsules in 68 mothers of infants born before 32 weeks and measured milk volume, prolactin, newborn weight, breastfeeding satisfaction, and reported side effects. The 2019 tea trial included several herbs and does not identify fenugreek's separate effect. LactMed reports that fenugreek components have not been measured in human milk after ingestion.
What does the human pregnancy evidence establish about birth defects?
- Source A says
- NCCIH warns that fenugreek amounts above food use have been linked to birth-defect risk in people and animals. Radouani et al. reported use in 8 of 68 neural-tube-defect cases and 1 of 100 controls. (NCCIH: Fenugreek, Radouani et al. (2015): Epidemiology and risk factors of the closing neural tube defects, Moroccan data)
- Source B says
- EMA describes pregnancy data as limited, reports animal reproductive toxicity, and its current public summary says not to use medicinal seed products during pregnancy. The human case series record exposure but do not estimate general risk or establish cause. (European Medicines Agency: European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semen, Revision 1, EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the Public, Khalki et al. (2010): Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of aqueous fenugreek seed extract in mice, Oufquir et al. (2020): Sprouted fenugreek seed extract study in mice, Forci et al. (2021): Incidence of neural tube defects and their risk factors within a cohort of Moroccan newborn infants, Ech-Chebab et al. (2026): Neonatal spina bifida and maternal characteristics in a Moroccan center)
- Why they differ
- NCCIH presents an exposure-associated warning, while EMA describes limited human data and a medicinal-product restriction alongside animal findings. The Moroccan case-control study and case series are small and geographically specific; they cannot estimate general-population risk or establish that fenugreek caused the outcomes.
- What the evidence shows overall
- There is a human exposure signal and animal developmental concern, but no causal or trimester-specific human estimate. Keep avoid for medicinal or supplement amounts, consistent with NCCIH and EMA, and describe food use separately.
Does the breastfeeding precaution show that fenugreek causes infant harm through milk?
- Source A says
- EMA advises against medicinal fenugreek seed products while breastfeeding and its monograph reports limited lactation data. (European Medicines Agency: European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semen, Revision 1, EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the Public)
- Source B says
- LactMed reports that no fenugreek components have been measured in human milk and infant information is limited. ACOG says evidence for herbal galactagogues is relatively inconclusive. The 2025 fenugreek trial found no infant-weight difference, and the 2019 multi-herb tea trial found no group differences in infant symptoms or growth. (LactMed (NIH): Fenugreek, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee Opinion No. 820: Breastfeeding Challenges, Rouhi et al. (2025): Fenugreek trial in mothers of preterm newborns, Wagner et al. (2019): Safety of Mother's Milk Tea trial)
- Why they differ
- EMA applies a precaution to medicinal seed products when data are limited. LactMed and small trials describe available exposure and outcome information, but do not provide a large human milk-transfer or infant follow-up dataset; the tea trial cannot isolate fenugreek.
- What the evidence shows overall
- Evidence does not establish a reliable milk-supply effect or a complete infant outcome profile. EMA's restriction is a precaution, not a report of human infant harm. Keep the breastfeeding rating insufficient and distinguish food use from medicinal use.
- ACOG says a lactation expert can assess the full feeding process and possible medical causes of low milk supply; its opinion says galactagogues are not first-line because evidence is inconclusive and all agents can have adverse effects. (ACOG Committee Opinion No. 820: Breastfeeding Challenges)
- LactMed emphasizes evaluation and counseling about factors that affect milk production when considering a galactagogue. (LactMed (NIH): Fenugreek)
General research, not specific to pregnancy.
LactMed and EMA describe possible effects beyond pregnancy and breastfeeding, including blood-glucose changes and drug interactions.
- LactMed reports that fenugreek may lower blood sugar at higher amounts and may interact with warfarin, increasing bleeding risk. (LactMed (NIH): Fenugreek)
- EMA says oral fenugreek may lower blood glucose and that monitoring should be considered for people taking diabetes medicines. (EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the Public)
- NCCIH: FenugreekUS governmentSecondary
- European Medicines Agency: European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semen, Revision 1EU agencySecondaryPage dated 2021-11-24Independent checkEuropean guidance
- EMA: Fenugreek seed, Assessment Report Summary for the PublicEU agencySecondaryPage dated 2026-03-12Independent checkEuropean guidance
- Radouani et al. (2015): Epidemiology and risk factors of the closing neural tube defects, Moroccan dataUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Forci et al. (2021): Incidence of neural tube defects and their risk factors within a cohort of Moroccan newborn infantsUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Ech-Chebab et al. (2026): Neonatal spina bifida and maternal characteristics in a Moroccan centerUS governmentPrimary
- Khalki et al. (2010): Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of aqueous fenugreek seed extract in miceUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Oufquir et al. (2020): Sprouted fenugreek seed extract study in miceUS governmentPrimary
- LactMed (NIH): FenugreekUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-07-15
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #9: Use of Galactogogues in Initiating or Augmenting the Rate of Maternal Milk SecretionProfessional societySecondary
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee Opinion No. 820: Breastfeeding ChallengesSecondaryIndependent check
- Cochrane Review: Oral galactagogues for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non-hospitalised term infantsResearch reviewPrimaryIndependent check
- Cragg et al. (2026): Herbal galactagogues in mothers of preterm infants, systematic reviewUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Rouhi et al. (2025): Fenugreek trial in mothers of preterm newbornsUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Wagner et al. (2019): Safety of Mother's Milk Tea trialUS governmentPrimary
Last reviewed 2026-10-14
Independent check 2026-10-14
Not yet clinician-reviewed
Ask your provider about your situation.