Medicago sativa, commonly known as alfalfa, is a legume and a member of the pea family. Many people enjoy alfalfa sprouts on salads, and alfalfa supplements also are available, derived from dried leaves of the plant. Some animal research and preliminary research with humans indicates that alfalfa supplements may have benefits for specific health conditions, but most of this research was not well-designed, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health at its MedlinePlus website. Consult with a qualified health care provider before taking alfalfa supplements.
Digestive Benefits
Alfalfa has traditional uses for treating digestive disorders, although these uses are not backed by research, as noted by the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Traditional Chinese medicine has recommended young alfalfa leaves for this purpose, and Ayurvedic physicians of India advised patients to consume both the leaves and the flowers to relieve digestion problems. American Eclectic physicians, a group of doctors in the 19th century who used herbal remedies, prescribed alfalfa for treating indigestion, heartburn, loss of appetite and poor nutrient absorption.
Cholesterol Reduction
Alfalfa may decrease levels of total cholesterol and of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol, without affecting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the good cholesterol, according to MedlinePlus. The website cautions that more research with humans is necessary to confirm this benefit. Alfalfa leaves contain 2 to 3 percent saponins, which appear to block cholesterol absorption. Saponins also seem to prevent development of arterial plaques, and animal research indicates that eating alfalfa decreases cholesterol plaques in arteries, according to MedlinePlus. Research with humans is lacking. Alfalfa seeds also contain saponins, and a study published in the May 1987 issue of "Atherosclerosis" evaluated the effects of heat-treated alfalfa seeds on people with high cholesterol and high triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood. Fifteen participants took 120g per day of these seeds for eight weeks and experienced significant decreases in cholesterol levels. The UMHS cautions that regularly consuming this large amount of alfalfa seeds might damage red blood cells.
Menopause Benefits
Alfalfa leaves contain isoflavones that may cause the estrogen-like activity seen in animal research, according to the UMHS, and some women use alfalfa to treat unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Research published in the May 1998 issue of "Minerva Ginecologica" evaluated the effectiveness of a product containing leaf extracts of both alfalfa and Salvia officinalis, or sage, on symptoms in 30 menopausal women. Twenty of these women experienced complete relief from hot flashes and night sweats while taking this remedy, four showed good improvement and the other six experienced some decrease in symptoms.
Blood Sugar Reduction
Studies with animals show that consuming alfalfa decreases blood sugar levels, as noted by MedlinePlus, but research with humans is limited. Consuming large amounts of a water extract of alfalfa leaves has caused increased insulin release in animal studies, according to the UMHS, which can lead to decreased blood sugar.
References
- MedlinePlus: Alfalfa
- University of Michigan Health System: Alfalfa
- Minerva Ginecologica: Treatment of Neurovegetative Menopausal Symptoms with a Phytotherapeutic Agent; V. De Leo, et al.; May 1998
- Atherosclerosis: Alfalfa seeds Lower Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; J. Molgaard, et al.; May 1987
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