Probiotics for women’s health no longer taboo, as Lallemand projects market growth

18 Jul 2022 --- Increasing interest in combating women’s health issues ranging from vaginal health to menopause are driving demand for natural ingredients such as probiotics, according to Lallemand Health Solutions.

“Specific probiotics are gaining attraction as they are a natural alternative to the conventional over-the-counter solutions for vaginal health. Probiotics for women’s health is a fast-growing market, increasingly attracting women through online and on-site retail places,” Élodie Aragon, product manager, Lallemand Health Solutions, tells NutritionInsight.

“While in the past, probiotic supplements for women’s health, especially vaginal and intimate health, were considered a niche or taboo market, it is no longer the case.”

“With the very high prevalence of vaginal health problems, there are potentially around 1.4 billion women suffering from vaginal troubles worldwide – vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginitis. This, paired with the ban on live bacteria in European medical devices, the market needs alternative yet efficient solutions.”

Aragon explains that probiotic supplements taken orally with scientifically proven vaginal health benefits are a necessity for women.

“The market for women’s health is still a market with strong potential for growth. For example, there are still few women’s health products that combine vaginal health and gut health benefits,” she details. “Other women’s specific conditions, like menopause, are being studied and soon clinical studies will reveal which probiotic strain can be used for these new health applications,” she adds.

Probiotics for microflora balance
According to Lallemand Health Solutions, probiotics for women’s health is a significant opportunity to expand brand portfolios with a potential target audience of over 1.4 billion women.

The probiotics for women’s health core growth areas include vaginal health, urinary tract infections, pregnancy and skin health.“Genito-urinary issues, including vulvovaginal candidiasis, urinary tract infections and bacterial vaginosis are the leading conditions, bringing women to seek out medical advice, prescriptive drugs and to investigate natural efficient complementary supplements, such as probiotics,” Aragon says.

The company adds that probiotics help to rebalance the female vaginal microflora, a rich and complex ecosystem, mainly consisting of lactobacilli that support the vaginal environment and health.

“Acting upon the gut or vaginal microbiota, specific probiotics can help each woman at every stage of her life, from puberty to menopause,” details Aragon.

“The benefits of probiotics to support women’s health are increasingly recognized, mainly due to their ability to maintain and restore digestive and vaginal microflora balance, with positive consequences on feminine health as well as on digestive health, occasional stress, or natural defenses.”

Additionally, she explains that innovative solutions targeting specific vaginal conditions can now be conveniently administered orally.

Vaginal health
According to Lallemand, three out of four women will experience an imbalance of the Candida albicans prominent microflora at some point in their lives and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis affects approximately 138 million women annually worldwide.

Probiotic supplements taken orally with scientifically proven vaginal health benefits are a necessity for women.“Lactobacilli can help rebalance the vaginal microflora and promote vaginal comfort during occasional vaginal imbalance,” says Aragon. “Lactobacilli probiotics, which have a positive effect on endogenous microflora, could help support the vaginal microflora and protect against some undesirable bacteria and fungi.”

Probiotics are relatively recent ingredients for women seeking to take care of their intimate health, according to Lallemand.

“There are natural alternatives to address specific vaginal health issues with specific probiotic strains, scientifically backed for efficacy, without causing side effects. In most cases, efficacy was demonstrated on local (vaginal) application,” details Aragon.

Previously, Health Canada approved additional indications for the probiotic L. Plantarum Rosella that is taken orally. The federal institution is aware of the probiotic’s ability to support healthy vaginal microflora, promoting a healthy vaginal microbiome.

“L. Plantarum Rosella, which is L. Plantarum P17630 (Proge P17630), licensed from Proge Farm, Italy. Rosela is a convenient probiotic shown to support women’s intimate health. The convenience of oral administration with the same efficacy as a local application will certainly help increase compliance.”

“To recolonize the vaginal microflora, choosing the right bacteria strain is crucial. L. Plantarum Rosella addresses recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, a common issue that affects intimate health,” she concludes. 

By Nicole Kerr