Vaginal microbiome boost: Health Canada greenlights Lallemand’s L. plantarum Rosella

09 Sep 2021 --- Lallemand Health Solutions’ orally administered probiotic L. plantarum Rosella has gained new indications from Health Canada. The federal institution recognizes the probiotic’s capacity to help support a healthy vaginal microbiome by supporting healthy vaginal microflora.

“Probiotics are a recent ingredient for women who want to improve their intimate health. They are a safe and natural way to address vaginal health issues with specific probiotic strains that have been clinically proven to be effective,” Elodie Aragon, product manager, Lallemand Health Solutions, tells PersonalCareInsights.

“To recolonize the vaginal microflora, choosing the right bacteria strain is crucial; only a handful of probiotic supplements taken orally are effective. L. plantarum Rosella addresses one of the most prevalent intimate health issues, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).”

“It is great that now Canadian health authorities are officially acknowledging the health claims Rosella is marketed for.”

Abundant benefits for vaginal health
The L. plantarum Rosella strain was investigated in over 800 women in six separate clinical trials. It was found to help promote vaginal health alone or as an adjunct to conventional treatment (anti-fungal) in VVC or bacterial vaginosis (BV). The probiotic also normalizes the pH and restores flora diversity associated with healthy vaginal flora.

“Alone or in combination with conventional antifungal treatments for candidiasis, women saw an improvement in candidiasis with a decrease in symptoms including less swelling, redness, burning or itching infection that an overgrowth of bad bacteria can cause,” explains Aragon.Women who ingest L. plantarum Rosella have improved candidiasis with decreased symptoms, including less swelling, redness or itching.

“This probiotic strain also helped reduce the risk of recurrence of this candidiasis.”

Rosella is available in various convenient dosage forms, and it can be formulated with other ingredients for extra health claims relevant to this targeted population.

Last year, Lallemand Health Solutions acquired the right to license and commercialize Proge Farm’s well established probiotic strain L. plantarum P17630 (Proge P17630), which is recognized for its specific women health benefits on a broad spectrum of benefits, from helping to maintain proper vaginal balance, to being used for recurrent VVC.

Vaginal microflora and lactobacilli
The female vaginal microflora is a rich and complex ecosystem, mainly consisting of lactobacilli, which support the vaginal environment and health, comments Aragon.

Vaginal balance is fragile, and many internal or external factors can affect this balance. For example, gut health, immunity, mood balance, oral health and intimate health have been linked by scientists to endogenous microbiota, she continues.

“Vaginal microflora imbalance is caused by changes in the number of certain types of microorganisms in the vaginal environment. It is the most common reason for occasional vaginal discomfort in women aged 15 years to 44 years.”

“Lactobacilli can help rebalance the vaginal microflora and promote vaginal comfort during times of occasional vaginal imbalance,” adds Aragon.

Supporting this, Synbio Tech’s SynForU-HerCare lactobacilli strain was found to be effective in treating vaginal candidiasis.

Also, in June, Probi and the Competence Centre on Health Technologies (CCHT) established an R&D agreement to develop probiotic lactobacilli strains that will aid in vaginal health.

Immune response
Lactobacilli probiotics, which positively affect endogenous microflora, could thus help support the vaginal microflora and protect against some undesirable bacteria and fungi, notes Aragon.

“Their capacity to adhere to epithelial cells and produce biosurfactants, produce antimicrobial substances (lactic acid, H2O2, bacteriocins), compete for nutrients and the immunomodulatory properties confer to Lactobacilli the ability to support a healthy immune state and immune response during occasional bacterial imbalances.”Lactobacilli can help rebalance the vaginal microflora and promote vaginal comfort during times of occasional vaginal imbalance.

“Also, lactobacilli act as antagonism against opportunistic bacteria and fungi by inhibiting their adhesion and growth,” she adds.

Vaginal epithelial cells and Candida albicans
The vaginal epithelium is the inner lining of the vagina consisting of multiple layers of cells, Aragon explains.

“Vaginal epithelial cells protect the body from the external environment and help microflora communicate with the whole body.”

Candida albicans is the most important and well-known yeast species of the genus Candida. As part of a commensal bacteria, Candida albicans are also often found in the gastrointestinal tract, details Aragon.

“Candida can normally co-exist in the vagina without any problem, and a proper Candida albicans balance is an indicator of the healthy vaginal microbiota. However, it may cause trouble if it outnumbers other microorganisms.”

“Three out of four women will have an imbalance with a Candida albicans prominent microflora at some point in their life, and Candida albicans cause 90 percent of vaginal yeast infections,” she adds.

“There is a clear interest for women to address women-specific health issues with the help of probiotics,” Aragon concludes.

By Nicole Kerr