Fenugreek Tea Benefits Breast Milk Production and Infant Body Weight

by | Oct 4, 2016 | 2011, Botanicals, Fenugreek, Infant and Children's Health, Pregnancy and Lactation

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Mothers who drank at least 3 cups of fenugreek tea had significantly more milk volume; in addition, their infants weighed more and regained their weight faster than the mothers –infants pairs in the placebo and control groups.

fenugreekThe American Academy of Pediatrics states that breastfeeding remains the best type of nutrition for infants 1. But mothers can have difficulties with breast milk production that can lead to excessive weight loss in their newborns 2 as well as late birth weight catch-up which can lead to dehydration as well as liver and kidney problems 3.   Because of this health concern in newborns, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that every infant be weighed between the third and fifth days after birth 4,5. Weight loss greater than 7% of birth weight in the infant indicates possible breastfeeding problems 6,7.

As a result, finding ways to naturally stimulate breastmilk production are needed. Fortunately, research suggests that supplementing nursing mothers with fenugreek tea, which contains substances called galactagogues believed to stimulate and maintain maternal milk production 8,9, may be one such approach. In a 2011 randomized, double-blinded study 10, 66 mother-infant pairs were assigned to the following groups:

  • Group one consisting of 22 mothers who were asked to drink at least 3 cups of 200 mL of fenugreek tea daily.
  • A placebo group of 22 mothers who were asked to drink apple tea since it has the same is the same color and form as fenugreek tea.
  • A control group of 22 mothers who received on recommendations except routine instructions.

All mothers agreed to breastfeeding and follow-up visits until babies had gained back their postnatal weight loss. Birth weight, loss of birth weight, length of time required to regain birth weight and the amount of breast milk generated were assessed on day 3 post- delivery.

The researchers noted the following differences among the 3 groups:

  • Maximum weight loss was significantly lower in infants in group one compared to both the placebo and control groups (p<0.05).
  • Infants in group 1 regained their birth weight earlier than those in control and placebo groups p<0.05).
  • The mean measured breast milk volume of the mothers who received galactagogue tea was significantly higher than the placebo and control groups (p<0.05).

A study limitation was the small size of the groups; however, it is a promising study that warrants further exploration into fenugreek’s effect on lactation.

When suggesting how fenugreek elicits these health benefits, the researchers pointed to two components of fenugreek: phytoestrogens and diosgenin. These components stimulate sweat production, “which would enhance milk secretion because the breast is a kind of sweat gland” 11. They went on to conclude that “fenugreek herbal tea may support exclusive breastfeeding by enhancing the production of breast milk in the first week.”

Source: Turkyılmaz, Canan, Esra Onal, Ibrahim Murat Hirfanoglu, Ozden Turan, Esin Koç, Ebru Ergenekon, and Yıldız Atalay. “The effect of galactagogue herbal tea on breast milk production and short-term catch-up of birth weight in the first week of life.” The journal of alternative and complementary medicine 17, no. 2 (2011): 139-142.

© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Posted October 4, 2016.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.

References:

  1. Physicians AAoF. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession. 2002.
  2. Manganaro R, Mami C, Marrone T, Marseglia L, Gemelli M. Incidence of dehydration and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants. J Pediatr. 2001;139(5):673-675.
  3. Salas AA, Salazar J, Burgoa CV, De-Villegas CA, Quevedo V, Soliz A. Significant weight loss in breastfed term infants readmitted for hyperbilirubinemia. BMC pediatrics. 2009;9:82.
  4. Konetzny G, Bucher HU, Arlettaz R. Prevention of hypernatraemic dehydration in breastfed newborn infants by daily weighing. Eur J Pediatr. 2009;168(7):815-818.
  5. Harding D, Cairns P, Gupta S, Cowan F. Hypernatraemia: why bother weighing breast fed babies? Archives of disease in childhood Fetal and neonatal edition. 2001;85(2):F145.
  6. Lawrence R, Lawrence R. Biochemistry of human milk. Breastfeeding A guide for the medical profession 6th ed Philadelphia: Elsevier Mosby. 2005:105-170.
  7. Macdonald PD, Ross SR, Grant L, Young D. Neonatal weight loss in breast and formula fed infants. Archives of disease in childhood Fetal and neonatal edition. 2003;88(6):F472-476.
  8. Gabay MP. Galactogogues: medications that induce lactation. Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. 2002;18(3):274-279.
  9. Betzold CM. Galactagogues. Journal of midwifery & women’s health. 2004;49(2):151-154.
  10. Turkyilmaz C, Onal E, Hirfanoglu IM, et al. The effect of galactagogue herbal tea on breast milk production and short-term catch-up of birth weight in the first week of life. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY). 2011;17(2):139-142.
  11. Tiran D. The use of fenugreek for breast feeding women. Complementary therapies in nursing & midwifery. 2003;9(3):155-156.