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Rc7.5
Red Clover Research
Likely helps
86 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Red Clover appears to help in 13 of 15 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1999–2026 with a typical study size of 177 participants.
Based on 86 studies · 39 meta-analyses · 34 RCTs · 29,631 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
13helped2unclear· 71 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks · Supports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks
Likely helps82 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Likely helps15 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Likely helps10 studies
Bone healthSupports bone mineral density and skeletal strength · 8-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
InflammationImproved arterial compliance; lipid effects are mixed and modest · 8-12 weeks
Depression & moodReduced menopausal symptoms like hot flashes · 4-12 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
Anxiety & stress
Too few graded studies1 study
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 43 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
60%
across studies
People studied
30k
typical study: 177 people
Strongest designs
73
39 pooled, 34 randomised
Showed benefit
87%
13/15 studies
How long studies ran
1–3 months
2
3+ months
2
Populations Studied
Postmenopausal women10
Menopausal women8
Men2
General population2
Active research area
45 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
199920122026
1PCOS symptoms improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=5,501 · very large study2025
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
Zhao G et al. · Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2025)
Inositol significantly decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while curcumin was most effective in improving low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
For improving obesity, sex hormone levels, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators of PCOS patients, carnitine, chromium, and soy isoflavones are effective options, respectively.
2Male reproductive hormonesMeta-AnalysisCited 41×n=752 · large study2021
Sub-analysis of the data according to isoflavone dose and study duration also showed no effect.
Reed KE et al. · Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) (2021)
Sub-analysis of the data according to isoflavone dose and study duration also showed no effect.
This updated and expanded meta-analysis indicates that regardless of dose and study duration, neither soy protein nor isoflavone exposure affects TT, FT, E2 or E1 levels in men.
Wang Y et al. · Journal of the science of food and agriculture (2021)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The results showed that isoflavone intake might be a protective factor to GC, but the result was not statistically significant (RR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.79-1.07).
However, total soybean intake could significantly decrease the risk of GC by 36% (RR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.51-0.80), which might be credited to non-fermented soybean products (RR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.71-0.87).
In contrast, high intake of fermented soybean products could increase the risk of GC (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02-1.38).
11Bone turnover markersMeta-AnalysisCited 3×n=73 · small study2024
This systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the potential of isoflavone interventions to rectify imbalances in bone remodeling, enhance bone mineral homeostasis, and optimize hormones regulating bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.
Inpan R et al. · Archives of osteoporosis (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Hormones involved in regulating bone metabolism, particularly insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1), exhibited significant increases following isoflavone interventions (MD = 9.8163 ng/mL; P < 0.0001).
This systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the potential of isoflavone interventions to rectify imbalances in bone remodeling, enhance bone mineral homeostasis, and optimize hormones regulating bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.
12Bone mineral densityMeta-AnalysisCited 11×n=63 · small study2024
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that isoflavone interventions, especially those containing genistein of at least 50 mg/day, can effectively enhance BMD in postmenopausal women.
Inpan R et al. · Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA (2024)
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that isoflavone interventions, especially those containing genistein of at least 50 mg/day, can effectively enhance BMD in postmenopausal women.
13CHD risk reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 9×n=471 · medium study2022
The present results indicate that dietary intakes of fruits and vegetables abundant five flavonoid subclasses, namely anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, flavones and isoflavones, are associated with a lower risk of CHD.
Fan ZK et al. · The British journal of nutrition (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Multivariate-adjust relative risks (RR) with corresponding 95 % CI were pooled by using a random-effects model.
Dose-response analysis showed that increment of 50 mg/d anthocyanins, 100 mg/d proanthocyanidins, 25 mg/d flavonols, 5 mg/d flavones and 0·5 mg/d isoflavones were associated with 5 % reduction in CHD risk, respectively.
Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were used to further support these associations.
15Cholesterol levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 26×n=208 · medium study2013
We found no evidence for effects of isoflavones on patient-important outcomes or lowering of cholesterol levels in people with hypercholesterolaemia.
Qin Y et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2013)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
There was a slight significant effect on triglycerides in favour of isoflavones when compared with placebo (mean difference (MD) -0.46 mmol/L (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.84 to -0.09; P = 0.02; 52 participants; 2 trials).
No statistically significant effects on total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were shown in favour of isoflavones.
We found no evidence for effects of isoflavones on patient-important outcomes or lowering of cholesterol levels in people with hypercholesterolaemia.
16Cancer-specific mortality and recurrenceMeta-AnalysisCited 15×2024
Soy, enterolactone, and green tea demonstrated significant risk reductions in outcomes following breast cancer.
van Die MD et al. · JNCI cancer spectrum (2024)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Soy protein and products were inversely associated with cancer-specific mortality for estrogen receptor-positive disease (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.92).
An inverse association was observed for serum or plasma enterolactone, measured prediagnosis and early postdiagnosis, with cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.90) and all-cause mortality (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.83).
There was a 44% reduced risk of recurrence with prediagnostic green tea for stage I and II breast cancer (HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.83).
17Menopausal symptoms and quality of lifeMeta-AnalysisCited 5×2024
According to the results of the analysis, soy isoflavones had no effect on menopausal symptoms (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, sexual, and urogenital complaints) and quality of life in climacteric women but did reduce the level of depression.
Gençtürk N et al. · Explore (New York, N.Y.) (2024)
According to the results of the analysis, soy isoflavones had no effect on menopausal symptoms (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, sexual, and urogenital complaints) and quality of life in climacteric women but did reduce the level of depression.
There was a high risk of conflict of interest in the included studies.
18IL-6 reduction with whey proteinMeta-AnalysisCited 45×2023
These data support that whey and soy protein supplementation elicit anti-inflammatory effects by reducing circulating IL-6 and TNF-α levels, respectively.
Prokopidis K et al. · The British journal of nutrition (2023)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
A significant reduction of circulating IL-6 levels following whey protein [Mean Difference (MD): -0·79, 95 % CI: -1·15, -0·42, I2 = 96 %] and TNF-α levels following soy protein supplementation (MD: -0·16, 95 % CI: -0·26, -0·05, I2 = 68 %) was observed.
The addition of soy isoflavones exerted a further decline in circulating TNF-α levels (MD: -0·20, 95 % CI: -0·31, -0·08, I2 = 34 %).
According to subgroup analysis, whey protein led to a statistically significant decrease in circulating IL-6 levels in individuals with sarcopenia and pre-frailty (MD: -0·98, 95 % CI: -1·56, -0·39, I2 = 0 %).
Isoflavone consumption resulted in a significant reduction in triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations (-12.50 mg/dL; 95% CI: -23.09, -1.91) and a modest increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol...
Yang S et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2023)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Isoflavone consumption resulted in a significant reduction in triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations (-12.50 mg/dL; 95% CI: -23.09, -1.91) and a modest increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) concentrations (1.83 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.03, 3.64).
Subgroup analysis showed that isoflavones significantly decreased TG (-15.79 mg/dL; 95% CI: -28.36, -3.22) and increased HDL cholesterol (2.49 mg/dL; 95% CI: 1.80, 3.19) in postmenopausal females under 65 y old.
Longer treatment duration (≥24 wk) was associated with a significant reduction in TG, whereas HDL cholesterol improvement occurred during the early period (<24 wk) of supplementation.
20Lipid profile in cardiovascular disease preventionMeta-AnalysisCited 12×2022
This meta-analysis provides evidence that consuming flaxseed, soy and red clover can have a beneficial effect on lipids in postmenopausal women and suggest a favorable effect in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Błaszczuk A et al. · Nutrients (2022)
The effect of soy protein on the lipid profile showed a significant decrease in TC levels: WMD = -0.15; 95% CI: -0.25-0.05; p = 0.0048, LDL-C levels: WMD = -0.15; 95% CI: -0.25-0.05; p = 0.0067, as well as a significant increase in HDL-C levels: WMD = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.02-0.08; p = 0.0034.
Changes in the lipid profile showed a significant reduction in TC levels after the use of red clover (WMD = -0.11; 95% CI: -0.18--0.04; p = 0.0017) and a significant increase in HDL-C levels (WMD = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.07; p = 0.0165).
This meta-analysis provides evidence that consuming flaxseed, soy and red clover can have a beneficial effect on lipids in postmenopausal women and suggest a favorable effect in preventing cardiovascular diseases.