Red clover benefits

Red Clover has traditionally been used to ease menopause symptoms such as hot flushes. We love it so much that it’s one of several key ingredient in Pretty Pea’s PRETTY BALANCED, the hormone balancing supplement.

Research has shown that this pretty pink flowering extract can help menopause symptoms. In particular it’s been shown effective in reducing the frequency of menopause hot flushes (hot flashes) and in menopause weight gain. This article explains more about red clover benefits.

Natural menopause relief

Red clover is one of several “medicinal plants that can play an imperative role in the treatment of acute menopausal symptoms.”

A 2017 study listed the following plants as being effective menopause remedies, each with differing mechanisms and each having different effects on the body:

• Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
• Sage herb (Salvia officinalis)
• Ginkgo biloba
• Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
• Panax ginseng
• Pimpinella anisum
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Passiflora incarnata
• Valerina officinalis
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
• Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
• Black cumin (Nigella sativa)
• Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)
• Hypericum perforatum
• Glycine soja

What is red clover

Like peas and beans, red clover belongs to the family of plants called legumes. It’s dark pink flowers can be used as a food extract or as an edible garnish. It contains substances called isoflavones—compounds that are structurally similar to estrogen. 

Red clover has the Latin name Trifolium pratense. Traditionally used by the Chinese, native Americans and Russians for a wide range of conditions such as asthma, whooping cough, gout and even cancer. Today, red clover is mostly used for menopause symptoms, high cholesterol levels and osteoporosis. Here are 7 evidence based benefits of red clover.

1. Hot flushes

Can red clover help hot flushes? Yes. A 2016 and 2021 review and meta analysis of data looked at red Clover as a treatment for hot flushes (hot flashes) and menopause symptoms in perimenopause and postmenopause women.

The studies confirm that there is evidence for a “statistical and clinically significant benefit for using a specific standardised extract of red clover isoflavones at 80mg/day for treating hot flushes in menopausal women.”

It found that red clover consumption can reduce the daily frequency of hot flushes, especially in women with severe hot flushes (≥ 5 per day) by 30-50%. Plus these studies found that it may also reduce other menopause symptoms such as anxiety, depression and vaginal dryness.  

2. Vaginal Atrophy / Vagina Dryness

With the decrease of estrogen during menopause vaginal atrophy is a frequent complaint of postmenopausal women; symptoms include vaginal dryness, itching, discomfort and painful intercourse.

Studies have found that vaginal dryness and symptoms of vaginal atrophy can significantly improve with 80-mg dose of red clover.

3. Bone Density

The association between menopause and osteoporosis was first identified in the 1960’s, thereafter estrogen treatment was adopted to prevent bone loss. Nowadays, a large number of studies have proven that estrogen is effective in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Aside the typical menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances and mood swings, osteoporosis is considered to be the most prevalent disease in menopausal women, and is strongly associated with low quality of life.

It is estimated that the prevalence of osteoporosis rises from 1/3 in people at age 50–60 to more than 50% of people aged over 80 years. By 2050, the global osteoporosis sufferers will reach 6 million (including both males and females), 3/4 of who will reside in developing countries

During the menopausal transition period, the average reduction in bone mass density is about 10%. Approximately half of women are losing bone even more rapidly, perhaps as much as 10%–20% in those 5–6 years around menopause. About 25% of postmenopausal women can be classified as fast bone losers.

Plant estrogens, isoflavones, as found in red clover, probably have beneficial effects on bone health in menopausal women. Research has found that phytoestrogen supplements can probably prevent the reduction in bone mass density and maintain a healthy bone structure during menopause.

Whilst there has been some conflicting earlier studies, a recent 2020 review and meta analysis found that Isoflavones have beneficial effects on bone mass density and are safe in postmenopausal women. The research concluded that isoflavones may be “considered as a complementary or alternative option in the prevention and treatment of menopause-related osteoporosis.“

4. Reduce Total Cholesterol

Studies have suggested that a red clover extract is effective in reducing the concentrations of total cholesterol. Potentially, this means that women taking red clover for menopause symptoms can derive additional benefits from the plant’s specific effect that corrects abnormal cholesterol levels.

5. Anxiety & depression

Red clover, derived isoflavones, has been found to be effective in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among postmenopausal women.

A 2009 study of 109 postmenopausal women aged 40 or more were randomly assigned to receive two daily capsules of 80mg red clover isoflavones or a placebo for a 90-day period. The study concluded that those taking red clover had significantly reduced anxiety and depression, equivalent to a 76.9% reduction (76% for anxiety and 78.3% for depression) and an 80.6% reduction in the self rating score.

6. Skin & hair health

Red clover has long been used in traditional medicine to promote healthy skin and hair and there has been some research to support these claims.

A 2011 randomized study of 109 postmenopausal women, found that participants reported significant improvements in scalp hair and skin status as well as libido, mood, sleep, and tiredness after taking 80 mg of red clover extract for 90 days.

Red clover was also found to have hair growth benefits in men in a 2013 study. The study of 30 men showed a 13% increase in the hair growth cycle and a 29% decrease in the hair loss cycle when a 5% red clover extract was applied to the scalp for 4 month

Promising research.

7. Menopause Weight Gain Significantly Inhibited

Weight gain is a common symptom of menopause. Women can find themselves carrying more body fat and particularly abdominal fat. This weight gain can cause some women anxiety with a feeling of lack of control over their body.

The body can start to change shape as the decline in estrogen causes women’s bodies to become more ‘apple shaped’. Fat accumulates more so around the middle, causing many women to find they lose their waistline.

The combination of red clover and hops has been proven to “significantly inhibited body weight gain and decrease fat weight”.

Improving Menopause Symptoms

Both red clover and hops are already known individually for benefiting menopause symptoms, however, their combination hadn’t been studied until recently.

A 2020 study aimed to evaluate for the first time the efficacy of the combination of red clover and hops extract (RHEC) together for treating menopause symptoms.

The study found that the combination of red clover and hops was an effective menopause remedy that can bring relief to many of the menopause symptoms that cause women to struggle with their changing bodies, including menopause weight gain.

So much so that combining red clover and hops can result in menopause weight gain being ‘significantly inhibited.’

The study findings concluded it’s safety and found that combining red clover and hops has “high potential for comprehensively improving various symptoms of menopause.“

You’ll find both red clover and hops extract in Pretty Pea’s FEMALE BALANCE supplement, along with several other isoflavones, herbals and hormone balancing vitamins and minerals.

Hot flushes skin temperature

If you’re experiencing hot flushes you’ll be all too aware of the changes in your skin temperature.

The combination of red clover and hops was also found to promote changes in tail-skin temperature (TST) associated with hot flushes (hot flashes) – being significantly inhibited.

Other markers related to menopause symptoms, such as blood lipid profile (total cholesterol), bone metabolism, antioxidants and vaso-relaxants were significantly improved after taking red clover and hops extract.

How long does red clover take to work

Studies indicate that after 12 weeks there was a “statistically significant reduction in the daily incidence of hot flushes in women receiving red clover”. This was with an isoflavone dose of ≥80 mg/day.

Earlier research in 2014 found that Red clover was effective in reducing menopause hot flushes when taken for a period of 3-4 months.

Following these studies red clover should be taken for a minimum of 12 weeks to achieve best results.

Is red clover safe

Red clover extracts have been used in clinical studies for as long as 3 years with no safety issues.

It’s important to note that as phytoestrogen supplements may have effects like those of the hormone estrogen, therefore they may not be safe for women who shouldn’t take estrogen.

Those with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as ovarian or breast cancer or endometriosis, should consult their GP before taking red clover due to its estrogenic activity.

Although it’s worth noting that a 3-year, double-blind study found taking 40 mg of red clover daily to be safe for women with a family history of breast cancer. A 2008 study concluded that red clover isoflavones are safe and well tolerated in women with a family history of breast cancer. When compared with the placebo group, there was not an increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial thickness, or hormonal changes.

Also, as phytoestrogens mimic the effect of estrogen in the body they are not recommended for those taking HRT as it could potentially affect your HRT dosage.

It should also be noted that, along many other supplements, women should not take red clover supplements during pregnancy or while breastfeeding as there is no safety data on this.

Red clover may slow down blood clotting and therefore should be avoided by those with bleeding disorder. In this instance, in 2018, a case of bleeding disorder in a 28-year-old woman taking red clover is reported. She had no history of warfarin use, but warfarin was detected in her blood serum analysis. It was found that red clover was a natural coumarin and can cause an increase bleeding.

This emphasises why you should always make your GP aware of any herbal supplements you may be taking so that they can be “alert to the possible disadvantage of herbal remedies and also probable herb-drug and herb-food interactions.”

Furthermore, always tell your hospital about any medications or herbal remedies you’re taking if you’re going to have surgery.

You can see more on Pretty Pea’s range of hormone balancing supplements.

You can order your BALANCE menopause supplements here.

You can see more about menopause weight gain on the Pretty Pea blog.

Article References:

PMID: 32595737         2020

PMID: 29403626         2017

PMID: 26471215         2016

PMID: 33920485         2021

PMID: 25074017         2014