Red Clover: Effect and Application During Menopause

Red clover is often recommended during menopause to get a better grip on the typical, hormone-related symptoms. In this health tip, we explain what effect the medicinal plant has.

Red clover – effect in menopause

Red clover (Fabaceae) brings with it some healthy ingredients that are said to help you with menopause symptoms, among other things.

• In addition to B vitamins and vitamin C, the plant also contains some minerals.
• Other effective ingredients of the medicinal plant are coumarins, salicylates, glycosides and proteins.
• Red clover is recommended for menstrual cramps and menopause symptoms – but mainly because of the isoflavones in the medicinal plant. This refers to secondary plant substances.
• These phytochemicals bear a certain resemblance to the hormone estrogen.
• During menopause, the female body produces less estrogen. This lack of estrogen is responsible for the typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia or depressive moods.
• The isoflavones in red clover are said to counteract these symptoms. However, the use of isolated isoflavones during menopause is now discouraged.

Fabaceae not harmless in the climacteric

Red clover is usually offered in the form of dietary supplements to combat menopausal symptoms.

• After numerous undesirable side effects such as nausea or allergic reactions were reported, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) took a closer look and examined the red clover products on offer.
• The investigations came to the conclusion that the positive effect of red clover in menopause could not be proven.
• However, harmful effects on health of products with high doses of isolated isoflavones have been established, such as promoting hyperthyroidism and an increased risk of breast cancer.
• It is recommended that you avoid red clover products during menopause.
• For the time after the menopause, the postmenopause, the risk is classified as lower.
• The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recommends taking red clover-based dietary supplements for a maximum of three months and no more than 43.5 mg of isoflavones per day.