GENERAL INFORMATION: Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a perennial herb that commonly grows wild in meadows throughout Europe and Asia, and has now been naturalized to grow in North America. Red flowers at the end of branched stems are the source of its medicinal properties are usually dried for therapeutic use. Specific chemicals in red clover, known as isoflavones, have been isolated and tested for their effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions. These effects have been studied and documented in the medical literature (see references below). Isoflavones in red clover have shown particular promise in treating two femme-specific conditions: menopausal cardiovascular health, and other specific symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes.
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT: Red clover is a source of calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. It is also considered to be one of the richest sources of isoflavones (water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants).
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: Menopause increases a woman's risk of developing cardiovascular disease. According to the Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, the possibility of heightened cardiovascular risk associated with menopause can be reduced by dietary isoflavone intake (1). The group found arterial compliance (a measure of the strength and resiliance of the arterial walls), which normally diminishes with menopause, to significantly improve with red clover isoflavones (1). The group finally concluded that red clover isoflavones indicate a potential new therapeutic approach for improved cardiovascular function after menopause (1). The North American Menopause Society found the most convincing health benefits of isoflavones to be statistically reduced levels of LDL (or "bad" cholesterol) and increased levels of in HDL (or "good" cholesterol) (3). University College of London conducted a study which concluded that a 1-month supplementation with red clover isoflavones has a positive effect on HDL cholesterol (4). A noted hospital Endocrinology Department in Australia studied red clover isoflavones and found similar results: significant increases in HDL (5).
MENOPAUSE: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Amsterdam investigated the potential efficacy and safety of red clover isoflavone in reducing menopausal hot flashes. A 30-women, 12-month study concluded that treatment with 80 mg red clover isoflavone per day significantly reduced hot flushes (2).
REFERENCES:
(1) Nestel PJ, Pomeroy S, Kay S, Komesaroff P, Behrsing J, Cameron JD, West L. Isoflavones from red clover improve sytemic arterial compliance but not plasma lipids in menopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Mar;84(3): 895-8.
(2) van de Weijer PH, Barensten R. Isoflavones from red clover (Promensil) significantly reduce menopausal hot flush symptoms compared with placebo. Maturitas. 2002 Jul 25; 42(3): 187-93.
(3) [No authors listed] The role of isoflavones in menopausal health: consensus opinion of the North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2000 Jul-Aug; 7(4): 215-29.
(4) Campbell MJ, Woodside JV, Honour JW, Morton MS, Leathem A.J. Effect of red clover-derived isoflavone supplementation on insulin-like growth factor, lipid and antioxidant status in healthy female volunteers: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jan; 58(1): 173-9.
(5) Clifton-Bligh PB, Baber RJ, Fulcher GR, Nery ML, Moreton T. The effect of isoflavones extracted from red clover (Rimostil) on lipid and bone metabolism. Menopause. 2001 Jul-Aug; 8(4): 259-65.
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