How could diet affect hyperprolactinemia?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    There are no specific dietary recommendations for hyperprolactinemia, but maintaining a healthy body weight may help reduce prolactin levels, especially for people with overweight or obesity. Certain foods, such as fennel and fenugreek, may increase prolactin levels and should be avoided by people with hyperprolactinemia.

    There is no specific dietary recommendation for people with hyperprolactinemia. However, people with overweight and obesity may have higher prolactin levels,[1][2] so a diet that helps achieve and maintain a healthy body weight could reduce prolactin levels.

    Certain foods may increase prolactin levels and should be avoided by people with hyperprolactinemia. (These foods are also often recommended to breastfeeding women to help improve milk supply.) They include fennel[3] and fenugreek[4] These two herbs — as well as basil, oats, and milk thistle — have been used historically for this purpose, but their true impact on prolactin levels remains uncertain.[5]