Biotics breakthrough: Boosting women’s health with targeted solutions

25 Sep 2024 — In a growing biotics market, the nutrition industry is increasingly developing targeted pre-, pro- and postbiotics for women’s health, backed by clinical evidence. Representatives from AB-Biotics, ADM, Gnosis by Lesaffre and Lallemand Health Solutions highlight their biotic solutions for a wide range of women’s health, from pregnancy and menopause to metabolic health, skin care and mental well-being.

Miquel Bonachera, co-founder of AB-Biotics, tells Nutrition Insight that women are increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional remedies for women’s health areas.

“Beyond menopause, there is also an increasing awareness of the importance of microbiome modulation in overall well-being for women and the role biotics can play in supporting women’s health. Various prebiotics and postbiotics are now specifically designed to support women’s digestive health, immune function, mood regulation, skin health and other areas such as urinary tract health.”

He predicts a “continued growth” in the space, with probiotics playing an increasingly prominent role in supporting women’s health.

Paula Limena, VP of global marketing health and wellness at ADM, also sees a “significant shift” in how women approach their health, focusing holistically on physical and mental well-being. “As a result, diverse trends are emerging that include a range of needs, like weight management, metabolic health, body composition, satiety, skin health and mental well-being.”

She details that ongoing evidence supports the connection between the microbiome and multiple areas of well-being. “For example, we examined a 14-strain probiotic supplement and results demonstrated meaningful improvements in mood compared to placebo.”

“Often referred to as the ‘gut-brain axis’ and ‘gut-skin axis,’ biotics have demonstrated a tremendous impact on everything from emotional health to skin health, weight management and metabolic health,” Limena continues. “Satiety is of particular interest to consumers given the popularity of GLP-1 products. This is an area where prebiotics can support by potentially increasing the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone.”

There is an increasing awareness of the importance of microbiome modulation in overall well-being for women, says Bonachera.Biotics for women

Limena highlights that ADM’s science-backed biotics portfolio covers solutions for various women’s health needs, such as satiety, metabolic health, weight management, mood and stress support.

For example, she explains that ADM/Matsutani LLC’s Fibersol — a prebiotic dietary fiber — is backed by over 30 years of clinical research on satiety. “One study’s results demonstrated that Fibersol may increase appetite-regulating hormone GLP-1 when consumed at 10 g with a meal in healthy individuals.”

“Additionally, our BPL1 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT8145) probiotic and postbiotic target factors relevant to metabolic health. Emerging and in vitro evidence suggests that BPL1 postbiotic — combined with diet and exercise — may help support visceral fat reduction, a healthy waist circumference and metabolic health pathways,” Limena explains.

Moreover, emerging and in vitro evidence also suggests that BPL1 probiotics, combined with diet and exercise, may help support weight management, a healthy body mass index and metabolic health pathways.

ADM’s DE111 (Bacillus subtilis) spore-forming probiotic also provides several benefits, such as body composition. Limena details: “The effects of DE111 were examined during the offseason training of collegiate athletes, with results showing decreased body fat percentage in females.”

She highlights that mood and stress support is critical for women across life stages, particularly during menopause. “Results from our recent study with Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 (ES1) probiotic and postbiotic, which examined adults with mild to moderate irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, indicated a significant reduction in stress versus placebo, as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Index.”

The company also examines the combination of ES1 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 (BPL15) in its Mood and Stress formulation. Limena details: “This formulation was studied in a zebrafish model where it showed significantly improved mood status compared to the control by improving swimming speed and exploratory behavior, and a human clinical trial is underway.”

Limena highlights that biotics impact various health areas, such as emotional, skin and metabolic health.Specialized strains

Due to ongoing research and innovation, AB-Biotics’s Bonachera has seen significant developments in biotics for women’s health.

“We understand more about the microbiota and how it is not just gut microbiota but uterovaginal microbiota and skin microbiota that can impact many different areas of women’s health. Unlike other nutritional supplements, biotics can be formulated to address specific and targeted needs such as urogenital health, hormonal balance and overall well-being.”

The company developed biotic innovations for women’s health that focus on addressing critical therapeutic areas, with a particular emphasis on vaginal and urinary tract health and menopause.

“Recognizing the importance of maintaining a balanced urinary microbiota ecosystem, a healthy vaginal environment and the need for menopause solutions, we have developed specialized probiotic strains under our Gyntima brand,” details Bonachera.

“Our probiotic blend for menopause, Levilactobacillus brevis KABP 052, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP 051 and Pediococcus acidilactici KABP 021, commercially known as Gyntima Menopause, has shown a potential to support hormone balance through slowing down estrogen decline in healthy peri- and post-menopausal women by modulating the estrobolome — a collection of bacteria in the gut that metabolizes and modulates the body’s estrogen levels.”

He adds that the latest study on this blend revealed that estrogen levels were “significantly sustained” after 12 weeks of Gyntima Menopause supplementation (one capsule daily) compared to the placebo group when adjusted for age and baseline levels.

From pregnancy to menopause

Emilie Puppinck, biotics product manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre, notes that women face numerous challenges in maintaining and securing their health. “And those needs change with age.”

“Menopause supplements are now turning multidimensional, addressing various symptoms of pre-, post- and perimenopausal stages. Brain health-related claims such as mental acuity, insomnia and brain mood health are the fastest growing in the menopause space, according to Innova Market Insights. This shows that more attention is being given to making women feel relaxed and comfortable while facing the difficult transition of the menopause stage.”

Menopause supplements are turning multidimensional, sees Puppinck, addressing symptoms such as mental acuity and sleep.She highlights that the company’s probiotic yeast for vaginal health, Quatreflora, can be mixed with other ingredients to provide synergistic benefits for vaginal health and beyond, “enhancing their individual effects and helping to support women’s health during each step of life.”

For example, it can be blended with Quatrefolic, Gnosis’s active folate that supports fertility and pregnancy, as well as menopause symptoms like hot flashes. Puppinck further explains that it can be combined with Lynside S. boulardii, another proven probiotic yeast that aids in balancing the microbiome and addresses recurrent digestive issues.

Additionally, the product can be mixed with Lynside Forte Zn and Lynside Forte Se. These are “nutritional yeasts that deliver zinc and selenium, respectively, supporting fertility, beauty and immunity.”

Meanwhile, Lallemand Health Solutions developed Prenatis, “a significant advancement” in perinatal health, details the company’s product manager, Elodie Aragon. This new probiotic formulation combines two proprietary strains known for their safety and efficacy — L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 and B. bifidum HA-132.

She adds that Prenatis supports maternal well-being and the foundation of a healthy infant microbiome during the first months of life.

“Prenatis was tested in a large-scale, gold-standard clinical trial involving 180 healthy pregnant women in their third trimester, with follow-ups on mothers and babies up to one year old.”

“Preliminary results show positive outcomes in maintaining a healthy pregnancy and establishing a healthy infant microbiome,” Aragon continues. “Prenatis can be combined with other probiotic strains and enriched with valuable ingredients. It is available in multiple convenient formats, including powder in sachets or sticks, orodispersible powder and capsules in blisters or bottles, ensuring ease of use for expectant mothers.”

Embracing skinbiotics

Other priorities in women’s health are healthy aging and skin health. ADM’s Limena notes that these go hand-in-hand for many women, “making it a top concern.”

Aragon notes that in a market saturated with topical products, beauty supplements offer a unique approach.“As consumers become more aware of the gut-skin axis, probiotic solutions like our AD and Smooth Skin formulations can be powerful ingredients. The AD formulation may help with dry, itchy skin and promote clear skin and vitality; Smooth Skin has shown that it can support overall skin health and healthy, clear skin.”

Aragon from Lallemand Health Solutions adds that nurturing physical appearance is integral to a woman’s self-care journey. “Consumers recognize that the efforts they invest today in their skin care routines will ripple into their future selves.”

“In a market saturated with topical products, beauty supplements offer a unique approach,” she adds.

For example, Innova Market Insight data indicates a rise in microbiome health claims for personal care products, which increased by 52% CAGR from April 2019 to March 2024.

“Women often choose natural solutions, recognizing that beauty is multidimensional, involving diet, lifestyle, stress management and supplements,” says Aragon. “Consumers seek formulas addressing multiple health benefits, such as mental and gut health.”

“As awareness of the gut microbiome and skin appearance rises, more individuals are embracing probiotic supplements, known as skinbiotics, to enhance skin health from within. Nutricosmetics offer the potential to unlock true radiance.”

She adds that Lallemand Health Solutions conducted a proof-of-concept clinical trial with the company’s most documented psychobiotic formula, Cerebiome, on the gut-brain-skin axis. “Preliminary results revealed the impact of the gut-brain-skin axis on skin appearance,” Aragon asserts.

By Jolanda van Hal