Merchient’s ingredient library
The library supports 5 wordings for fenugreek; the strongest is “A source of antioxidants that help protect cells against damage from free radicals” (limited, up to 30 g dried seed (or extract equivalent) a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Lowers blood sugar in diabetes, or helps manage diabetes”.
Also called: Trigonella foenum-graecum
Reviewed
Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.
Supported wordings
Limited evidenceWording 1
Claims Facts
“A source of antioxidants that help protect cells against damage from free radicals.”
| Daily dose | up to 30 g dried seed (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Health Canada lists it with a maximum dose only and no minimum; no other listed source covers it. |
| Dose details | Adults 18 and older, up to 30 g a day. Health Canada sets no minimum for this use. |
| Form | Dried seed or non-standardized seed extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Fenugreek - Oral |
Limited evidenceWording 2
Claims Facts
“Used in herbal medicine to help stimulate the appetite.”
| Daily dose | 2-30 g dried seed (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Health Canada lists it as a herbal medicine use that labels may call traditional; no other listed source covers it, and no trial evidence was read. |
| Dose details | Adults 18 and older. |
| Form | Dried seed or non-standardized seed extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Fenugreek - Oral |
Limited evidenceWording 3
Claims Facts
“Used in herbal medicine as a digestive tonic to aid digestion.”
| Daily dose | 2-30 g dried seed (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Health Canada lists it as a herbal medicine use that labels may call traditional; no other listed source covers it, and no trial evidence was read. |
| Dose details | Adults 18 and older. |
| Form | Dried seed or non-standardized seed extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Fenugreek - Oral |
Limited evidenceWording 4
Claims Facts
“Used in herbal medicine to help promote breast milk production.”
| Daily dose | 2-30 g dried seed (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Health Canada lists it as a herbal medicine use that labels may call traditional; no other listed source covers it, and no trial evidence was read. |
| Dose details | Adults 18 and older. Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if pregnant. |
| Form | Dried seed or non-standardized seed extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Fenugreek - Oral |
Limited evidenceWording 5
Claims Facts
“Used in herbal medicine as a supporting measure for healthy glucose levels.”
| Daily dose | 2-30 g dried seed (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Health Canada lists it as a herbal medicine use that labels may call traditional, framed as supportive; no other listed source covers it, and no trial evidence was read. |
| Dose details | Adults 18 and older. Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if you have diabetes. |
| Form | Dried seed or non-standardized seed extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Fenugreek - Oral |
Wordings to avoid
Claims Facts
| Wording to avoid | Reason |
|---|---|
| “Lowers blood sugar in diabetes, or helps manage diabetes”Names a disease. Health Canada’s wording is about supporting healthy glucose levels, with a caution for people with diabetes. | Disease |
| “Lowers high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)”Names a disease. Health Canada lists this herbal use, but it names a disease. | Disease |
| “Relieves gastritis or dyspepsia”Names diseases. Health Canada lists this herbal use, but it names diseases. | Disease |
| “Boosts testosterone, or treats low testosterone”Low testosterone as a diagnosis is a medical condition; no listed source supports a testosterone claim for fenugreek. | Disease |
Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.
Vera, Merchient’s AI employee, reads your site and emails you the riskiest line, why, a safer rewrite and how many more like it she found. Reply, and you get the free first report.
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