Fenugreek and Increased Breast Milk Volume

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 1,500 (median 1,500, IQR 1,500–1,500) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 10 days · IQR 10 days–10 days · Range 10 days–10 days — Reported in 1 of 2 studies

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityReported
None of the participants reported any side effects.
from: Investigating the Effectiveness of Fenugreek on the Quantity of Breast Milk and the Level
urine odor (maple syrup)Reported
Where reported, they were limited to minor complaints such as mothers with urine that smelled like maple syrup and urticaria in infants (very low-certainty evidence).
from: Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in m
urine that smelled like maple syrupReported
Where reported, they were limited to minor complaints such as mothers with urine that smelled like maple syrup and urticaria in infants (very low-certainty evidence).
from: Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in m
urticariaReported
Where reported, they were limited to minor complaints such as mothers with urine that smelled like maple syrup and urticaria in infants (very low-certainty evidence).
from: Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in m
urticaria (infant)Reported
Where reported, they were limited to minor complaints such as mothers with urine that smelled like maple syrup and urticaria in infants (very low-certainty evidence).
from: Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in m

2 of 2 papersPopulation:

Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non-hospitalised term infants.
- 2020-05-18
- Meta-Analysis · n = 3,006
- The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2020(5)
- - Siew Cheng Foong
  - May Loong Tan
  - Wai Cheng Foong
  - Lisa A Marasco
  - Jacqueline J Ho
  - Joo Howe Ong
- PubMed: 32421208
- DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011505.pub2
2 Insights on
- Increased Breast Milk Volume
- High evidence
- Infants
Thirteen studies (Bu Xue Sheng Ru, Chanbao, Cui Ru, banana flower, fenugreek, ginger, moringa, fenugreek, ginger and turmeric mix, ixbut, mixed botanical tea, Sheng Ru He Ji, silymarin, Xian Tong Ru, palm dates; 962 participants) reported on milk volume, but meta-analysis was not possible due to substantial heterogeneity (I² = 99%). The subgroup analysis for each intervention suggested either benefit or little or no difference (very low-certainty evidence).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Investigating the Effectiveness of Fenugreek on the Quantity of Breast Milk and the Level of Prolactin in Mothers of Preterm Newborns: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
- 2025-11
- RCT
- Current drug research reviews 17(3)
- - Mahsa Rouhi
  - Mohammad Bagher Hossieni
  - Laleh Khodaie
  - Sakineh Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi
  - Mojgan Mirghafourvand
- PubMed: 41239794
- DOI: 10.2174/0125899775313919240822102906
4 Insights on
- Increased Breast Milk Volume
- High evidence
- Clinical
no statistically significant difference was observed between groups in milk volume (p =0.073) ... on day 15.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
500 mg three times a day

Fenugreek and Increased Breast Milk Volume

Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non-hospitalised term infants.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Fenugreek on the Quantity of Breast Milk and the Level of Prolactin in Mothers of Preterm Newborns: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.