Nestlé launches probiotic solution for lactating mothers to support breastfeeding

14 Jun 2019 --- Nestlé has launched a probiotic solution for lactating mothers, to help them reduce the risk of breast pain and mastitis – a painful inflammatory condition of the breast – during breastfeeding. MATERNA Opti-Lac is a food supplement that contains a patented probiotic strain L. fermentum LC40, naturally found in breastmilk of healthy mums to support breast health. MATERNA Opti-Lac is being launched first in Hong Kong with several markets to reportedly follow in the coming months globally.

The product is a result of the signing last year of a single agreement between Nestlé and Spanish biotech company Biosearch Life, structured in two contracts: a license agreement for the marketing in 41 countries of the patented strain Hereditum Lactobacillus fermentum LC40 and a second contract for the manufacture and supply of the same strain.

Nestlé recommends women prone to breast pain and mastitis to take the hard gel capsules daily from the start of breastfeeding. Products will be available in pharmacies, drugstores, baby stores, retail shops and hospitals.

3. Hurtado J.A., et al, Breastfeed Med. 2017; 12: 202-209.“Maternal and infant nutrition are equally important in the first 1,000 days of life. We offer high-quality, nutritionally balanced and science-based products to mothers and babies during this period,” says Thierry Philardeau, Head of Nestlé’s Nutrition Strategic Business Unit. “With MATERNA Opti-Lac, we are helping mothers to continue breastfeeding and offer their babies a solid foundation for life. It is a privilege to accompany many millions of mothers on this journey.’’

Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for babies. This is why Nestlé notes its promotion of World Health Organization’s recommendation of six months exclusive breastfeeding, followed by the introduction of adequate nutritious complementary foods, along with sustained breastfeeding up to two years of age and beyond.

During breastfeeding, problems such as breast pain or mastitis can leave mums feeling so unwell that they often stop breastfeeding. Mastitis affects up to one in three mums especially in the first three months of breastfeeding.

Nestlé has been active in developing science-based products and services that support pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Through cutting-edge research initiatives such as LIFE (Lactation for Infant Feeding Expertise), the company is better equipped to understand human milk composition and its association with maternal nutritional status and infant health.

Last year the company launched MATERNA G-Balance, a new nutritional solution for pregnant women to help prevent gestational diabetes. With the introduction of MATERNA Opti-Lac, Nestlé is strengthening its portfolio, underlining its commitment to support optimal nutrition for mothers and babies during the first 1,000 days of life.

The nutritional market potential for solutions to aid lactating mothers is gaining increased interest and R&D investment.

In March, Biosearch Life launched a €2.3 million (US$2.6 million) initiative, coined the Gesta Health R&D project: Towards healthier gestation and lactation through modulation of the microbiota in women. The three-year project will target novel solutions to prevent and treat health problems during the preconception stage, pregnancy and lactation. Research is carried out through the study of women’s microbiota and the use of probiotic strategies to avoid imbalances in the microbiome and reduce the use of antibiotics. 

“The modulation of microbiota will be approached through different probiotic strategies using new strains from our collection of microorganisms isolated from breast milk. These strains could be incorporated into different food matrices and/or food supplements,” Monica Olivares, Research Director, Biosearch Life, told NutritionInsight at the time.

An imbalanced gut may have repercussions on both the mother and baby’s health, especially during gestation and lactation. Biosearch Life has previously studied the role of microbiota in breast milk and this new initiative looks to further expand its knowledge of the different microbiota associated with women.

The project will spawn several clinical studies to better understand the interaction between bacterial populations, as well as their interaction with the human organism. 

Additional reporting by Lucy Gunn