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Menopausal hot flashes are common vasomotor symptoms (VMS) that can impact quality of life, prompting interest in alternatives to hormone therapy. Red clover (Trifolium pratense), a source of phytoestrogenic isoflavones, is extensively used for symptom relief.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavones modestly but substantially reduce menopausal hot flash frequency, supporting their potential role in managing vasomotor symptoms.
Menopausal hot flashes are common vasomotor symptoms (VMS) that can impact quality of life, prompting interest in alternatives to hormone therapy. Red clover (Trifolium pratense), a source of phytoestrogenic isoflavones, is extensively used for symptom relief. However, evidence of its effectiveness has remained inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the efficacy of red clover supplementation in decreasing hot flash frequency and severity among peri- and postmenopausal women.
Researchers explored Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exploring red clover isoflavone formulations with placebo in peri- or postmenopausal females experiencing hot flashes. Treatment effects were expressed as standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals, with statistical significance defined as p less than 0.05.
Overall, 9 RCTs involving women aged 40–65 years were included. Baseline hot flash frequency ranged from 2.1 to 11.7 episodes daily. Red clover isoflavone doses varied from 37.1 to 160 mg/day, with treatment durations ranging from 12 weeks to 12 months. Red clover substantially reduced hot flash frequency compared with placebo (SMD: −0.446), indicating a small-to-moderate treatment effect.
Sensitivity analyses favored the robustness of the outcomes. No publication bias evidence was detected, and most studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias. However, the reported effect size reflects a standardized difference between groups and does not directly depict the number of hot flashes prevented per day.
Red clover isoflavone exhibited modest, statistically significant potency in alleviating menopausal hot flashes vs. placebo. These findings reinforce its clinical potential as a safe, evidence-based phytoestrogenic alternative for tackling VMS in women navigating the menopausal transition.
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
The effectiveness of red clover on hot-flash in menopausal women: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis
Wanling Jiang et al.
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