Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) for the management of menopausal women’s health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract This review aimed to evaluate the current evidence on the effectiveness and safety of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) for managing menopausal women’s health. Fourteen databases were searched. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated any type of fennel treatment in menopausal women. Seven RCTs that met our inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed. The included RCTs had concerning risks of bias in general. Two RCTs compared the effects of fennel with placebo, and the meta-analysis results favored fennel for improving menopausal symptoms (n=145, standard mean difference -1.32 [-1.76, -0.87], p