Does black cohosh improve bone density?

    Written by:
    Giulia Guerrini

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Black cohosh may reduce bone loss in ovariectomized rats and has shown positive effects on bone metabolism in humans, but a human trial that measured bone mineral density found no significant effects from supplemental black cohosh.

    During menopause, the drop in estrogen levels results in gradual bone loss.

    Supplementation with black cohosh in ovariectomized rats resulted in a reduction of bone loss from 53.7% to 38.7% over time.[1] Positive effects on bone metabolism were also observed in humans when measuring urinary markers and alkaline phosphatase. However, the only human trial to measure bone mineral density did not show any effects from black cohosh intervention.[2]