Research
Hops and 8-prenylnaringenin for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Hops and 8-prenylnaringenin is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Humulus lupulus; hop extract; 8-PN; 8-prenylnaringenin
What the evidence says about Hops and 8-prenylnaringenin
Three small human trials exist: 67 women for 12 weeks on 100 or 250 micrograms a day of standardised hop extract, a 36-woman crossover study on 10 micrograms a day of 8-prenylnaringenin, and 120 women for 90 days on hop tablets, all reporting reductions in menopausal symptom scores. All three were small and short, and in the first trial the higher dose performed less well than the lower one, which is not the pattern a genuine dose-response produces. 8-Prenylnaringenin is described as the most potent phytoestrogen identified so far, binding oestrogen receptor alpha with roughly 100 times the affinity of genistein — that is a safety question as much as a selling point. Hops is not mentioned anywhere in the Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement, so it was not assessed.
The grade "early for hot flushes; none for stress incontinence" means: early — Pilot or preliminary human data only; not enough to rely on. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Hops and 8-prenylnaringenin drug interactions
No documented drug interactions in the sources we checked. That is not the same as proof of safety alongside your medication — it usually means the question has not been studied. Ask a pharmacist before combining it with prescription drugs.
Who should be careful with Hops and 8-prenylnaringenin
- Discuss with your doctor before use if you have a hormone-sensitive cancer
- because 8-prenylnaringenin is strongly oestrogenic, reviewers flag unresolved questions about uterine and breast tissue proliferation and about interference with aromatase inhibitors
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Menopause Supplements: What Is Actually In Them
- Nature’s Way AM/PM PeriMenopause Formula: An Honest Ingredient Review
- MenoRescue Review (2026): What’s In It, What the Evidence Says, and Who It’s For
This entry is generated from row "Hops and 8-prenylnaringenin" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.