I was recently featured on Romper.com talking about fenugreek, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to begin a blog here on topics interesting to breast/chest-feeding and lactating families.
Milk supply concerns are among the main reasons parents offer their babies formula even when they wish they didn't have to do so. Following up on this concern, many lactating women find galactagogues (herbs or foods that are thought to increase milk supply) online and take them without guidance. There are many teas (or lactation cookies?) available online that promise to boost their milk supply, but they seldom deliver on that promise. They are also often a mixture of so many ingredients (some galactagogues and some ingredients added for taste), that the potential supply boosting effect is diluted.
So, what is fenugreek?
Fenugreek is a plant from the legumes family (the same family as peanuts and beans). Both leaves and seeds are consumed in many cultures, including Indian, Ethiopian, Swiss, Turkish, among many others. Fresh fenugreek leaves are rich in ascorbic acid and betacarotene (precursors of vitamin C and vitamin A in the human body) - 90% of those are lost in dried leaves. Seeds are commercially available whole or ground and can be used in spice blends (such as curry powder!) and teas, and are rich in fiber and polyphenol compounds (antioxidants). The rich fiber content in the seeds (45%) is believed to be partially responsible for some of the fenugreek's medicinal properties (Roberts, 2011).
The medicinal properties of the fenugreek seeds have been known much before the beginning of modern medicine, cited in ancient Ayurvedic, Chinese, Greek and Latin medicinal books (Wani & Kumar, 2018). Among its uses, it was recommended to increase milk flow after childbirth and to relieve menstrual and other abdominal cramps.
A recent study indicates that fenugreek most likely won't increase milk supply in parents with hormonal deregulations, insufficient glandular tissue, or undernourished nursing parent (Sevrin et al., 2019).
Warning: volatile and fixed oils present in fenugreek give its sweet, maple-like aroma - also responsible for the maple-syrup-like smell in human sweat after consumption of fenugreek (Meghwal & Goswami, 2012).
Medicinal properties of fenugreek
It stimulates milk production
It increases perspirations (sweat)
It has blood glucose-lowering effects (hypoglycemic agent). One of the compounds of fenugreek's seeds fiber, mannose, is a known blood-glucose-lowering agent. Mannose has a hypoglycemic effect both when consumed in the fiber form as well as in an isolated (extract) form.
It has cholesterol-lowering properties (hypocholesterolemic effect). Mannose has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Should all nursing parents take fenugreek to increase their milk supply?
Absolutely not. If it’s part of your culture and you always consumed fenugreek, by all means, continue to do so. If you are not familiar with it, I advise proceeding with caution. First, learn if you really need to boost your milk supply. Unsupervised consumption can lead to oversupply or adverse side effects. Overproducing is not a good thing - it increases your risk of developing clogged ducts, which can cause mastitis if untreated. An IBCLC can help you troubleshoot your supply. If necessary, an IBCLC, MD, or an RD can guide you in safely introducing a galactagogue like fenugreek into your diet, limiting side effects for you and your baby.
As stated above, fenugreek is from the legumes family. People with a family history of peanut or other legumes allergy should avoid fenugreek. There are anecdotal reports of some people (parents and babies) being more sensitive to fenugreek and developing gastric distress, such as heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation. Fenugreek is also NOT recommended for people with a history of asthma or allergies. It has also been shown to have some anticoagulant properties - that is, it can reduce the formation of blood clots (Tasi et al., 2013; Eldin, Abdalmutalab & Bikir, 2013). People who are taking anticoagulant medication or have a history of clotting problems should not take fenugreek. And finally, people taking insulin or glucose-lowering medications should not consume fenugreek before consulting their doctors.
In summary: talk to your health care provider (MD, RD, or IBCLC) before jumping the wagon of galactagogues!