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FenuSmart® (Standardized Fenugreek Extract for Menopause — Akay Bioactives)

Trigonella foenum-graecum
Evidence Level
Limited
2 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

FenuSmart (also written FenuSMART) is Akay's standardized fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) extract, standardized to a 3:1 ratio of protodioscin (a saponin) to trigonelline (an alkaloid). The maker's papers describe it as a husk extract in the first trial and a seed extract later. Two randomized, placebo-controlled trials, both run with Akay scientists, have tested it. In 88 postmenopausal women, 1,000 mg a day for 90 days raised plasma estradiol by 120% and reduced hot flashes and other menopausal discomforts. In 48 perimenopausal women, 250 mg twice a day for 42 days improved hot flashes, night sweats, low mood, sleep and urogenital symptom scores. Because it raised estradiol, people with estrogen-sensitive conditions should avoid it unless their doctor agrees. Fenugreek in supplement amounts is not safe in pregnancy.

Studied Dose 1,000 mg a day for 90 days (postmenopausal trial); 250 mg twice a day (500 mg a day) for 42 days (perimenopausal trial).
Active Compound Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) extract standardized to protodioscin and trigonelline in a 3:1 ratio (a steroidal saponin and an alkaloid).

Benefits

Hot flash frequency after menopause

In 88 postmenopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms, 1,000 mg a day for 90 days improved menopausal discomforts and quality of life compared with baseline and placebo. In the extract group, 32% reported no hot flashes afterwards and the rest went from 3 to 5 a day to 1 to 2 a day. A single maker-run trial; the abstract gives no placebo hot flash figures.

Supported by Trial 1

Hot flashes, night sweats and mood in perimenopause

In 48 perimenopausal women, 250 mg twice a day for 42 days improved somatic, psychological and urogenital symptom scores versus placebo, with hot flashes down 25.9%, night sweats 26.5%, depression 31.8% and insomnia 21.6%. A small trial run with the maker's scientists.

Supported by Trial 2

Urogenital symptom scores

In the 48-woman perimenopausal trial, the urogenital part of the Menopause Rating Scale, which covers vaginal dryness, sexual and bladder complaints, improved within and between groups. Neither trial's published summary gives a separate vaginal dryness result. A small trial run with the maker's scientists.

Supported by Trial 2

Raised plasma estradiol

In the postmenopausal trial, plasma estradiol rose 120% versus baseline and placebo (p < 0.01). In the perimenopausal trial, estradiol rose 18.9% and FSH fell 38.2%. A rise in estrogen is a reason for caution in estrogen-sensitive conditions such as hormone-sensitive breast or uterine cancer, endometriosis and fibroids.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Hormone changes measured in trials

In the postmenopausal trial, plasma estradiol rose 120%. In the perimenopausal trial, estradiol (18.9%), progesterone (19.9%) and free testosterone (38.2%) rose while FSH (38.2%) and SHBG (21.1%) fell. How the extract causes these changes has not been shown.

2

Standardized saponin and alkaloid content

The extract is standardized to protodioscin, a steroidal saponin, and trigonelline, an alkaloid, in a 3:1 ratio. Whether this ratio matters for the effects has not been tested against other fenugreek extracts.

Clinical trials

1
FenuSmart 1,000 mg in Postmenopausal Women
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: 1,000 mg a day of the standardized fenugreek extract or placebo for 90 days; symptoms by Greene Climacteric Scale and SF-36. (Shamshad Begum et al. 2016, Phytother Res)

88 women with moderate to severe postmenopausal symptoms (44 per group).

Plasma estradiol rose 120% (p < 0.01) and menopausal discomforts and quality of life improved versus baseline and placebo. 32% of the extract group reported no hot flashes afterwards; the rest went from 3 to 5 a day to 1 to 2 a day. Blood counts and biochemistry showed no safety problems. Four of the ten authors work at Akay's R&D centre.

2
Standardized Fenugreek Extract (FHE) in Perimenopausal Women
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: 250 mg twice a day of the maker's hydro-ethanolic fenugreek seed extract (FHE, 3:1 protodioscin to trigonelline) or placebo for 42 days, assessed by the Menopause Rating Scale. (Khanna et al. 2020, J Food Biochem)

48 healthy women with perimenopausal symptoms (24 per group).

Somatic, psychological and urogenital scores improved within and between groups: hot flashes 25.9%, night sweats 26.5%, depression 31.8%, insomnia 21.6%. Estradiol rose 18.9%, progesterone 19.9% and free testosterone 38.2%, while FSH fell 38.2% and SHBG 21.1%, with no clinical safety changes. Four of the seven authors work for Akay Natural Ingredients.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

No adverse effects on blood counts or blood chemistry were reported in the 90-day or 42-day trials.
Fenugreek can cause diarrhea, nausea and other digestive symptoms.
Fenugreek can cause allergic reactions, including serious ones, in some people.
Large doses of fenugreek may cause a harmful drop in blood sugar.
Pregnancy: fenugreek in amounts above those in food is not considered safe and has been linked to birth defects. Breastfeeding: little is known about safety at supplement doses.
Estrogen-sensitive conditions: the extract raised estradiol in trials, so avoid it with hormone-sensitive cancers, endometriosis or fibroids unless your doctor agrees.

Important Drug interactions

Diabetes medicines: large fenugreek doses may lower blood sugar; check with your doctor and monitor blood sugar.
Hormone therapy and other estrogen-containing medicines: possible additive effect because the extract raised estradiol; ask your prescriber.
Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors or other treatment for hormone-sensitive cancer: avoid unless your oncologist agrees.
If you take any medicine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using fenugreek; some herbs and medicines interact.

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Frequently asked questions about FenuSmart® (Standardized Fenugreek Extract for Menopause — Akay Bioactives)

What is FenuSmart?

FenuSmart (also written FenuSMART) is Akay's standardized fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) extract, standardized to a 3:1 ratio of protodioscin (a saponin) to trigonelline (an alkaloid). The maker's papers describe it as a husk extract in the first trial and a seed extract later.

What is FenuSmart used for?

FenuSmart is researched primarily for Menopause Support and Women's Health. In 88 postmenopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms, 1,000 mg a day for 90 days improved menopausal discomforts and quality of life compared with baseline and placebo.

What is the recommended dosage of FenuSmart?

The clinically studied dose is 1,000 mg a day for 90 days (postmenopausal trial); 250 mg twice a day (500 mg a day) for 42 days (perimenopausal trial). Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is FenuSmart safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for FenuSmart include: No adverse effects on blood counts or blood chemistry were reported in the 90-day or 42-day trials. Fenugreek can cause diarrhea, nausea and other digestive symptoms. It may also interact with some medications. FenuSmart is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does FenuSmart interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Diabetes medicines: large fenugreek doses may lower blood sugar; check with your doctor and monitor blood sugar. Hormone therapy and other estrogen-containing medicines: possible additive effect because the extract raised estradiol; ask your prescriber. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for FenuSmart?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for FenuSmart as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 2 study summaries and 4 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(4 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Shamshad Begum S, Jayalakshmi HK, Vidyavathi HG, Gopakumar G, Abin I, Balu M, Geetha K, Suresha SV, Vasundhara M, Krishnakumar IM. A Novel Extract of Fenugreek Husk (FenuSMART™) Alleviates Postmenopausal Symptoms and Helps to Establish the Hormonal Balance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Phytother Res. 2016;30(11):1775-1784. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5680.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 88 women with moderate to severe postmenopausal symptoms taking 1,000 mg a day of FenuSMART or placebo for 90 days. Plasma estradiol rose 120% (p < 0.01) and postmenopausal discomforts and quality of life improved versus baseline and placebo; 32% of the extract group reported no hot flashes and the rest fell from 3 to 5 to 1 to 2 a day. Four authors are from Akay's R&D centre.
  2. Khanna A, John F, Das S, Thomas J, Rao J, Maliakel B, Im K. Efficacy of a novel extract of fenugreek seeds in alleviating vasomotor symptoms and depression in perimenopausal women: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. J Food Biochem. 2020;44(12):e13507. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13507.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 48 perimenopausal women taking 250 mg twice a day of a standardized fenugreek seed extract (FHE, 3:1 protodioscin to trigonelline) for 42 days. Somatic, psychological and urogenital scores improved, including hot flashes (25.9%), night sweats (26.5%), depression (31.8%) and insomnia (21.6%), with higher estradiol and progesterone and lower FSH and SHBG. Four authors are from Akay Natural Ingredients; the maker's toxicology paper uses the same FHE name for FenuSMART.
  3. Sureshkumar D, Begum S, Johannah NM, Maliakel B, Krishnakumar IM. Toxicological evaluation of a saponin-rich standardized extract of fenugreek seeds (FenuSMART(®)): Acute, sub-chronic and genotoxicity studies. Toxicol Rep. 2018;5:1060-1068. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.10.008.PubMedUsed to support: Rat and bacterial toxicology study of FenuSMART (FHE), described as a saponin-rich standardized fenugreek seed extract: no toxic effects in acute and 90-day studies and no mutagenicity in the Ames test; no-observed-adverse-effect level 1,000 mg/kg a day, the highest dose tested. Preclinical, with three authors from Akay.
  4. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Fenugreek NCCIH (NIH). 2025;Fact sheet, last updated February 2025..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed. NIH fact sheet: fenugreek may cause diarrhea, nausea and other digestive symptoms; large doses may cause a harmful drop in blood sugar; it can cause allergic reactions, including serious ones; it is not safe in pregnancy in amounts above those in food and has been linked to birth defects; little is known about safety while breastfeeding.