Evidence supporting the use of: Alfalfa
For the health condition: Osteoporosis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for a variety of health conditions, including as a general tonic and source of vitamins and minerals. In the context of osteoporosis, alfalfa is sometimes recommended in traditional or folk medicine due to its relatively high content of calcium, vitamin K, and phytoestrogens (plant-based compounds that can have weak estrogen-like effects in the body). Estrogen deficiency is a key factor in the development of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, so some traditional practitioners have suggested that phytoestrogens may help support bone health. However, scientific evidence for these effects is minimal to absent. There are no high-quality clinical trials demonstrating that alfalfa supplementation improves bone mineral density or reduces fracture risk in humans. Most of the supportive claims are based on the plant's nutrient profile or extrapolations from animal or in vitro studies on phytoestrogens, not on direct clinical outcomes. Therefore, while the use of alfalfa for osteoporosis is rooted in tradition and plausible mechanisms, it is not validated by robust scientific research.

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Other ingredients used for Osteoporosis

7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)
8-Prenylnaringenin
Abalone
Acacetin
Alfalfa
algal oil
Algal protein
Algalin
Algas calcareas
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
ampelopsin
animal protein
animal Tissue
anthocyanins
antler
apigenin
arctiin
ashwagandha
astragalin
astragaloside
astragalus
barrenwort
beta caryophyllene
biochanin
blueberry
bok choy
bone protein
boron
bovine
bovine protein
broccoli
calcium
calycosin
catechins
caterpillar mushroom
Chinese Ligustrum berry
Cissus quadrangularis
cistanche
cod liver oil
collagen
collard
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
curcumin
cyanidin
daidzein
DHEA
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
dioscorea
diosgenin
diosmetin
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
Drynaria
ecdysteroids
eicosapentaenoic acid
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epicatechin
equol (proprietary)
estrogen
Eucommia ulmoides
fern
fish
fish protein
flavanols
flavanones
flavans
flavones
fo-ti
formononetin
genistein
genistin
glycitin
goji berry
gooseberry
haliotis
hesperetin
hesperidin
horsetail
Hyperoside
icariin
ipriflavone
isoflavones
Kaempferol
kale
knotweed
Legume protein
Lentinula edodes mycelia
lignans
Lithothamnion
Lycium
maca
magnesium
manganese
Marine protein
Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate (MCHC)
Milk Protein
Mineral blend
Naringenin
Neoeriocitrin
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
paeoniflorin
Phaeophyceae
phosphorus
Phytoecdysteroid
Phytoestrogens
polymethoxylated flavones
polysaccharides
polyunsaturated fat
pomegranate
proanthocyanidins
procyanidin
prune
Puerarin
quercetin
red clover
Rehmannia
rehmannia glutinosa
resveratrol
royal jelly
rutin
seaweed
sesame
Shilajit
silica
silicon
Soy
soy isoflavones
Soy Protein
soybean
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Stilbenoid
strontium
tocotrienols
Ursolic Acid
Vegetable Protein
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin K
Wakame
Whey protein
Xanthophyll
Zinc