Red clover is a native plant of Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. The flower head is the part of the plant used in herbal remedies. Scientists have identified estrogen-like substances called isoflavones and anticoagulant chemicals called coumarins in red clover. Most red clover farms sell the forage as green chop to dairies. Most of the time a red clover field is clipped since a uniform bloom is important for red clover seed production. The red clover seed is harvested in August and September.
Red Clover Blossom and
Herb, Nature's Way, 100 Capsules, 430 mg
Certified Organically Grown Red Clover Herb
In Europe, red clover herb (Trifolium pratense) is widely cultivated and used as a
salad herb and as a tonic. The globular heads of reddish-purple flowers have
long been prized by herbalists. This red clover herb supplement contains only full clover
blossoms and their accompanying leaves.
Click Red Clover herb to buy this product
Red clover for endometrial
hyperplasia
Effects of a red clover extract (MF11RCE) on endometrium and sex hormones in
postmenopausal women.
Maturitas. 2006 Aug 20;55(1):76-81. Division of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine,
University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
To evaluate the effects of a non-prescription red clover extract (MF11 red
clover extract, Melbrosin International, Vienna, Austria) on selected sex
hormones and endometrium in postmenopausal women. MF11 red clover extract exerts
a moderate effect on testosterone levels in postmenopausal women, while
estradiol levels remained unchanged. The observed reduction of endometrial
thickness provides further support for a safe role for isoflavones in terms of
endometrial hyperplasia.
Red clover for menopause
Given the results of the Women's Health
Initiative, many women no longer consider hormone therapy the first option for
promoting healthy aging. Instead, they are turning to botanical and dietary
supplement products in place of hormone therapy. Red clover is one of these
botanicals used by women for
menopause symptoms.
The effect of red clover isoflavones on menopausal
symptoms, lipids and vaginal cytology in menopausal women: a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Gynecol Endocrinol. 2005 Nov;21(5):257-64. Foundation for Health and Well
Being in the Climacteric FUCLIM, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of isoflavones contained in red
clover extracts (Trifolium pratense) on menopausal symptoms, lipids and vaginal
cytology in menopausal women. Sixty postmenopausal women aged >40 years,
non-users of hormone therapy, with Kupperman index score 15, were double-blindly
randomized to receive either a commercially available red clover isoflavone
supplement (80 mg/day) or placebo for 90 days. Compared with placebo, red clover
isoflavone supplementation in postmenopausal women significantly decreased
menopausal symptoms and had a positive effect on vaginal cytology and
triglyceride levels.
Efficacy of red clover isoflavones in the menopausal
rabbit model.
Fertil Steril. 2008 Oct 28. Adaikan PG, Srilatha B, Wheat AJ. Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, National University Hospital, Yong Loo Lin School of
Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
To evaluate the effectiveness of phytoestrogens as alternatives for selective
dysfunctional changes in the menopausal rabbit model. TSurgical menopause was
induced in 24 rabbits by ovariectomy. After 4 weeks of convalescence, three
groups were given 100 mug/kg E(2) valerate, 100 mug/kg daidzein, or 6.68 mg/kg
red clover extract daily for 12 weeks. The remaining six rabbits served as the
operated control group. Supplementing isoflavones for menopause leads to
significant improvements in bone density, tissue integrity, and vaginal blood
flow with minimal effect on uterine weight and may therefore be a viable
alternative to conventional regimens using synthetic estrogens.
Red Clover Side Effects
No major red clover side effects have been reported in the medical literature.
It is theoretically possible that in rare circumstances some people may have a
red clover side effect of an allergic reaction. Since human studies with red
clover do not extend beyond a couple of yeara, we don't know the long term red clover side
effects when taken in high doses for several years or decades. It is a good idea
to take breaks, such as a week off each month.
Red Clover Research study
The effects of phytoestrogen isoflavones on bone density in women: a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Feb;79(2):326-33. MRC Biostatistics
Unit, Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Isoflavone phytoestrogen therapy has been proposed as a natural
alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT has a beneficial effect on
bone, but few trials in humans have investigated the effects of isoflavones on
bone. The objective of the study was to determine the effect on bone
density of a red clover-derived isoflavone supplement that provided a daily dose
of 26 mg biochanin A, 16 mg formononetin, 1 mg genistein, and 0.5 mg daidzein
for 1 y. Effects on biochemical markers of bone turnover and body composition
were also studied. Women aged 49-65 y (n = 205) were enrolled in a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial; 177 completed the trial.
Bone density, body composition, bone turnover markers, and diet were measured at
baseline and after 12 mo. Loss of lumbar spine bone mineral content and
bone mineral density was significantly
lower in the women taking the red clover isoflavone supplement than in those taking the
placebo. There were no significant treatment effects on hip bone mineral content
or bone mineral density, markers of bone resorption, or body composition, but
bone formation markers were significantly increased (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and N-propeptide of collagen type I) in the intervention group compared with placebo in postmenopausal
women. Interactions between treatment group and menopausal status with respect
to changes in other outcomes were not significant. These data
suggest that, through attenuation of bone loss, red clover isoflavones have a potentially
protective effect on the lumbar spine in women.
Red clover-derived isoflavones and mammographic breast density: a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Atkinson C, Warren RM, Sala E et al. Breast Cancer Res.
2004;6:R170-R179.
Isoflavones are hypothesized to
protect against breast cancer, but it is not clear whether they act as
oestrogens or anti-oestrogens in breast tissue. Our aim was to determine the
effects of taking a red clover-derived isoflavone supplement daily for 1 year on
mammographic breast density. Effects on oestradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity and
menopausal symptoms were also assessed. A total of 205 women (age range
49-65 years) with Wolfe P2 or DY mammographic breast patterns were randomly
assigned to receive either a red clover-derived isoflavone tablet (26 mg
biochanin A, 16 mg formononetin, 1 mg genistein and 0.5 mg daidzein) or placebo.
Change in mammographic breast density, serum oestradiol, FSH, LH, menopausal
symptoms and lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity from baseline to 12 months were
assessed. A total of 177 women completed the trial. Mammographic breast density
decreased in both groups but the difference between the treatment and placebo
was not statistically significant. In contrast to studies showing that
conventional hormone replacement therapies increase mammographic breast density,
the isoflavone supplement did not increase mammographic breast density in this
population of women. Furthermore, there were no effects on oestradiol,
gonadotrophins, lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity, or menopausal symptoms.
Effects of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover on
ambulatory blood pressure and endothelial function in postmenopausal type 2
diabetes.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. George Hospital UNSW, Kogarah, NSW,
Australia.
The aim of this study was to determine whether dietary
supplementation with isoflavones from red clover affected ambulatory blood
pressure and forearm vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal type 2
diabetic women. Sixteen postmenopausal type 2 diabetics treated with
diet or oral hypoglycaemic therapy completed a randomized double-blind crossover
trial of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover (approximately
50 mg/day) for 4 weeks compared to placebo. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood
pressure recordings and forearm vascular responses to acetylcholine,
nitroprusside and L-nitromonomethylarginine (L-NMMA) were measured at the end of
each treatment period. Mean daytime systolic and diastolic blood
pressures were significantly lower during isoflavone therapy compared to placebo. The increase in
forearm vascular resistance following L-NMMA was significantly greater during
isoflavone supplementation, suggesting an improvement in basal endothelial function.
Plasma lipoproteins, glycated haemoglobin and forearm vascular responses to
acetylcholine and nitroprusside did not differ significantly between isoflavone
and placebo therapy. Isoflavone supplementation from red clover may
favorably influence blood pressure and endothelial function in postmenopausal
type 2 diabetic women.
Red clover herb emails
Q. Q. I've heard that red clover herb has
side effects, that it can aid in breast growth enhancement for males. Is there a
danger for males in taking red clover herb supplement?
A. We are not aware of any research regarding breast growth or
enlargement in men with the use of red clover herb.
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