Hospital Affiliation

Rose Medical Center

Back to Original List
Principal Proposed UsesOther Proposed Uses


Alfalfa

Uses

Principal Proposed Uses

  • Nutritional Support

Other Proposed Uses

Alfalfa is one of the earliest cultivated plants, used for centuries for feeding livestock. This probably is true in part because it is easy to grow, thrives in many varied climates throughout the world, and provides an excellent protein-rich food source for cattle, horses, sheep, and other animals. The name alfalfa comes from the Arabian al-fac-facah , for "father of all foods." 1 Its high protein content and abundant stores of vitamins make it a good nutritional source for humans, too. Historic (but undocumented) medicinal uses of alfalfa include treatment of stomach upset, arthritis, bladder and kidney problems, boils, and irregular menstruation.

Requirements/Sources

Alfalfa sprouts appear on many salad bars and in the grocery's produce section. Bulk powdered herb or capsules and tablets containing alfalfa leaves or seeds are available in pharmacies and healthfood stores.

Therapeutic Dosages

A typical dose of alfalfa for tea is 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup, steeped in boiling water for 10 to 20 minutes. Tablets and capsules of whole alfalfa or alfalfa extracts should be taken according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Certain products are said to be free of canavanine (see Safety Issues ) and other potentially harmful constituents; these products may be preferable. 2

Therapeutic Uses

Alfalfa is high in vitamin content—providing beta-carotene ; various B-vitamins ; and vitamins C , E , and K —and can be used as a nutritional supplement. 3 However, keep in mind that high doses of alfalfa may present some health risks. (See Safety Issues below.)
Numerous animal studies4-15 and preliminary human trials 16,17,18 indicate that extracts from alfalfa seeds, leaves, and roots might be helpful for lowering cholesterol levels. However, there have not been any well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials demonstrating alfalfa useful for this (or any other) purpose. (For information on why double-blind studies are so important, see Why Does This Database Rely on Double-Blind Studies? )
Studies using mice to investigate alfalfa's traditional use for diabetes found that it improved some symptoms. 19,20
Alfalfa has also been investigated in the laboratory (but not yet evaluated in people) as a source of plant estrogens, which might make it helpful for menopause . 21,22,23 Alfalfa may also have some use in fighting fungi. 24,25,26 Rats fed a disease-causing fungus were able to eliminate more of the fungus from their systems when fed a diet high in alfalfa. It has been suggested that one of the saponins from alfalfa causes damage to the cell membranes of fungi.
Finally, alfalfa has been proposed as a treatment for hay fever , but there is no scientific evidence that it is helpful for this purpose.

Safety Issues

Alfalfa, in its various forms, may present some health risks. Powdered alfalfa herb, alfalfa sprouts, and alfalfa seeds all contain L-cavanine, a substance that may cause abnormal blood cell counts, spleen enlargement, or recurrence of lupus in patients with controlled disease. However, heating alfalfa may correct this problem.
Researchers investigating alfalfa seeds' ability to lower cholesterol levels discovered that it had another effect on the lab animals used for testing. In some of the monkeys, it caused a disease very similar to lupus. 27 Further research on this effect revealed that monkeys that had abnormal blood cell counts when eating either alfalfa seeds or sprouts, and then recovered when alfalfa was no longer part of their diet, developed the symptoms again when given an isolated component of alfalfa called L-canavanine. 28 Alfalfa seeds and sprouts have a higher concentration of L-canavanine than the leaves or roots.
In a clinical trial of alfalfa seeds for lowering cholesterol involving only 3 human volunteers, one man who participated developed pancytopenia (an abnormally low number of all of the various types of blood cells) and enlargement of the spleen. 29 Additionally, there are two published case reports of patients, who had lupus which was controlled with drug therapy, suffering relapses after consuming alfalfa tablets. Again, L-canavanine is thought to be responsible for these effects.
When alfalfa seeds were autoclaved (heated to extremely high temperatures) and fed to monkeys for a year, no ill effects were seen, and the monkeys' cholesterol levels decreased. 30 It may be that the L-canavanine can be destroyed by extreme heat, while the saponins that seem to be responsible for the beneficial effects of alfalfa remain intact. If so, a heat-treated product might prove safe; however, much research remains to be done before we can know this for certain.
At present, it seems prudent that people who have been diagnosed with lupus, or those who suspect a predisposition to it based on family history, should probably avoid alfalfa. This includes the tablets used for supplements and the sprouts on the salad bar (go for the lettuce or the spinach instead).
Because of the estrogenic effects of some of alfalfa's components, alfalfa is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women or young children. In addition, the high vitamin K content in alfalfa could, in theory, make the drug warfarin (Coumadin) less effective.
Finally, a number of cases of food poisoning have been documented from fresh sprouts infected with bacteria that was present on the seeds prior to germination. 31,32,33 Unfortunately, sprouts can appear fresh and yet host enough bacteria to cause illness in people who eat them. Some healthcare workers recommend that those at higher risk for such infections—young children, those with chronic diseases, and the elderly—avoid eating sprouts altogether.

Interactions You Should Know About

If you are taking warfarin (Coumadin): the high vitamin K content of alfalfa might make it less effective.

References

1 Castleman M. The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press; 1991.

2 Colodny LR, Montgomery A, Houston M. The role of esterin processed alfalfa saponins in reducing cholesterol. J Am Nutraceutical Assoc. 2001;3:6-15.

3 Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions . Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications; 1998.

4 Story JA, LePage SL, Petro MS, et al. Interactions of alfalfa plant and sprout saponins with cholesterol in vitro and in cholesterol-fed rats. Am J Clin Nutr . 1984;39:917-929.

5 Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Naito HK, et al. Effect of alfalfa meal on shrinkage (regression) of atherosclerotic plaques during cholesterol feeding in monkeys. Atherosclerosis . 1978;30:27-43.

6 Malinow MR, Connor WE, McLaughlin P, et al. Cholesterol and bile acid balance in Macaca fascicularis. Effects of alfalfa saponins. J Clin Invest . 1981;67:156-162.

7 Esper E, Barichello AW, Chan EK, et al. Synergistic lipid-lowering effects of alfalfa meal as an adjuvant to the partial ileal bypass operation. Surgery . 1987;102:39-51.

8 Dixit VP, Joshi SC. Antiatherosclerotic effects of alfalfa meal ingestion in chicks: a biochemical evaluation. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol . 1985;29:47-50.

9 Malinow MR, McLachlin P, Papworth L, et al. Effect of alfalfa saponins on intestinal cholesterol absorption in rats. Am J Clin Nutr . 1977;30:2061-2067.

10 Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Stafford C, et al. Comparative effects of alfalfa saponins and alfalfa fiber on cholesterol absorption in rats. Am J Clin Nutr . 1979;32:1810-1812.

11 Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Stafford C, et al. Alfalfa saponins and alfalfa seeds. Dietary effects in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Atherosclerosis . 1980;37:433-438.

12 Yanaura S, Sakamoto M. Effect of alfalfa meal on experimental hyperlipidemia [in Japanese; English abstract]. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi . 1975;71:387-393.

13 Srinivasan SR, Patton D, Radhakrishnamurthy B, et al. Lipid changes in athersclerotic aortas of Macaca fascicularis after various regression regimens. Atherosclerosis . 1980;37:591-601.

14 Malinow MR. Experimental models of atherosclerosis regression. Atherosclerosis . 1983;48:105-118.

15 Malinow MR, Connor WE, McLaughlin P, et al. Cholesterol and bile acid balance in Macaca fasicularis. Effects of alfalfa saponins. J Clin Invest . 1981;67:156-162.

16 Molgaard J, von Schenck H, Olsson AG. Alfalfa seeds lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia. Atherosclerosis .1987;65:173-179.

17 Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Stafford C. Alfalfa seeds: effects on cholesterol metabolism. Experientia . 1980;36:562-564.

18 Colodny LR, Montgomery A, Houston M. The role of esterin processed alfalfa saponins in reducing cholesterol. J Am Nutraceutical Assoc. 2001;3:6-15.

19 Swanston-Flatt SK, Day C, Bailey CJ, et al. Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetologia . 1990;33:462-464.

20 Gray AM, Flatt PR. Pancreatic and extra-pancreatic effects of the traditional anti-diabetic plant, Medicago sativa (lucerne). Br J Nutr . 1997;78:325-334.

21 Kurzer MS, Xu X. Dietary phytoestrogens. Annu Rev Nutr . 1997;17:353-381.

22 Shemesh M, Lindrer HR, Ayalon N. Affinity of rabbit uterine oestradiol receptor for phyto-oestrogens and its use in a competitive protein-binding radioassay for plasma coumestrol. J Reprod Fertil . 1972;29:1-9.

23 De Leo V, Lanzetta D, Cazzavacca R, et al. Treatment of neurovegetative menopausal symptoms with a phytotherapeutic agent [in Italian; English abstract]. Minerva Ginecol . 1998;50:207-211.

24 Polacheck I, Levy M, Guiziem, et al. Mode of action of the antimycotic agent G2 isolated from alfalfa roots. Zentralbl Bakteriol . 1991;275:504-512.

25 Assa Y, et al. The effect of alfalfa saponins on growth and lysis of Physarum polycephalum. Arch Microbiol . 1975;103:77-81.

26 Smith TK, Carson MS. Effect of diet on T-2 toxicosis. Adv Exp Med Biol . 1984;177:153-167.

27 Malinow MR, Bardana EJ, Goodnight SH Jr. Pancytopenia during ingestion of alfalfa seeds [letter]. Lancet . 1981;1:615.

28 Malinow MR, Bardana EJ, Pirofsky B, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome in monkeys fed alfalfa sprouts: role of a nonprotein amino acid. Science . 1982;216:415-417.

29 Malinow MR, Bardana EJ, Goodnight SH Jr. Pancytopenia during ingestion of alfalfa seeds [letter]. Lancet . 1981;1:615.

30 Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Bardana EJ Jr, et al. Elimination of toxicity from diets containing alfalfa seeds. Food Chem Toxicol . 1984;22:583-587.

31 Inami GB, Moler SE. Detection and isolation of Salmonella from naturally contaminated alfalfa seeds following an outbreak investigation. J Food Prot. 1999;62:662-664.

32 Taormina PJ, Beuchat LR, Slutsker L. Infections associated with eating seed sprouts: an international concern. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999;5:626-634.

33 Van Beneden CA, Keene WE, Strang RA, et al. Multinational outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport infections due to contaminated alfalfa sprouts. JAMA . 1999;13:158-162.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Copyright © EBSCO Publishing
All rights reserved.