Experts highlight science-based ingredients for women’s health

October 18, 2023 — Every year, October 18 is set aside to raise awareness about menopause, break the stigma and highlight the support options available to improve women’s health and well-being. Nutritional overview discusses the latest developments in menopause nutrition products with professionals from Kerry Proactive health, FIF Health, Gencor, dsm-firmenich and PharmaLinea.

” Search by KerryThe Institute of Health and Nutrition estimates that by 2025, up to one billion women worldwide will be postmenopausal and 80% of them will experience symptoms including hot flashes, trouble sleeping, mood swings and sexual health issues,” says Alexandra Boelrijk, global director of health and nutrition. senior R&D director at Kerry Proactive health.

“This is fueling interest in products offering benefits for this key stage in women’s lives, with global annual growth of 19% CAGR in Supplements with “menopause” in the description from 2018 to 2022 (according to Innova Market Insights data).

Vanessa Azevedo, Global Head of Product Innovation Marketing, IFF Health, and Maider Gutierrez, Global Head of Health Category, highlight that menopause is an opportunity to celebrate and empower women, “allowing them to thrive throughout this phase of life, instead of just feeling like they need help. survive and endure.

Together with its partners, the company strives to help transform the experience of menopausal women to reinforce that they deserve a rich quality of life.

Azevedo and Gutierrez add: “Part of this fundamental equation means having an open and honest conversation and prioritizing resources for millions of women who feel neglected by society, brands and workplaces. »

Meet real needs at all stages of menopause
IFF Health supports the empowerment of healthy living and focuses on developing solutions to meet women’s health and wellness needs throughout their lives, Azevedo and Gutierrez explain.

World Menopause Day aims to raise awareness about menopause and break the stigma. “We recognize that menopause is an often overlooked and stigmatized topic, making most women feel “invisible.” We decided to embrace this underserved community by joining forces with GenM – the menopause partner of the brands.

Working with GenM, IFF Health can provide valuable market and consumer insights to help companies create targeted products and services that meet the real needs of menopausal women.

“We see a lot of potential in offering hormone-free solutions that treat menopausal symptoms in alternative ways,” emphasize Azevedo and Gutierrez.

“Our concepts are formulated to improve the quality of life of women throughout the peri-menopausal journey and to complement the beneficial effects of other important habits such as physical activity, adequate sleep and proper nutrition.

Common but underrepresented
Maggie McNamara, director of marketing at Gencor, notes that as research increases understanding of this phase of a woman’s life, the number of signs and symptoms of menopause appears to be increasing.

“Most people may be familiar with the 34 symptoms, of which hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes are among the most talked about.”

“But conversations around menopause now include signs of insomnia, nervousness, sexual health, mental well-being, itching and much more. Ninety percent of women experience menopausal symptoms and only 38% seek help from their doctor.

She adds that three in five women say menopause has a negative impact on their work. For example, in a 2018 survey in the United Kingdom, 84% found that menopausal symptoms interfered with their daily life, 12% found the symptoms debilitating, and 4% said the symptoms did not interfere at all. everything in their life.

McNamara cites a study conducted by Bupa Insurance UK in 2021 which found that “nearly 900,000 women leave work indefinitely due to the impact of their symptoms”.

Research continues to provide a better understanding of menopause and associated symptoms.Supplement options are still rare
A reduction in estradiol is a typical feature of menopause, McNamara explains, with associated symptoms affecting women to varying degrees, causing discomfort and distress.

“Additionally, loss of sexual desire in the years surrounding menopause may change. It is reported that one in four adult women, regardless of age, suffer from it, but despite its prevalence, there are few supplementation options.

She notes that Gencor offers three clinically studied botanical ingredients for women going through perimenopause and menopause: LibifemGenopause and affron.

“Genopause is a proprietary blend of four herbs from Ayurvedic medicine, and has been shown to help reduce vasomotor and other symptoms associated with menopause. Studies of Genopause have also shown an effect on other less discussed elements, such as completing more tasks, improving mood, patience, endurance, vaginal dryness, sleep and avoidance of intimacy.

McNamara adds that a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 117 healthy women determined that 1g per day of Genopause “significantly reduced menopausal symptoms.”

Hormonal imbalance
Boelrijk emphasizes that the safety and effectiveness of Kerry’s ingredients for health of menopausal women are scientifically based.

“Kerry offers a range of scientifically supported menopause solutions. Luprenol helps relieve pre- and post-menopausal discomfort related to hormonal imbalance, particularly low estrogen.

Experts emphasize the importance of scientific evidence for the safety and effectiveness of ingredients.The product is derived from hops (Humulus lupulus) and is a standardized 0.03% extract of 8-prenylnaringenin – the most potent plant phytoestrogen discovered, says Boelrijk.

“It binds to Erα (estrogen receptor alpha) with approximately 100 times greater affinity than genistein. Studies show that phytoestrogens mimic the effects of human estrogens and reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.

Kerry’s ingredient Damilib benefits women’s sexual health and libido related to hormonal imbalances, particularly before and after menopause. It is derived from damiana (Turnera diffusa), which has a long history of traditional use as an herbal aphrodisiac and tonic for overall health.

“Acacetin suppresses aromatase, an enzyme that helps convert testosterone to estrogen. With age, aromatase levels increase, thereby reducing free testosterone – a hormone that improves sexual activity, libido and pleasure,” adds Boelrijk.

Mimicking estrogenic effects
To alleviate hot flashes, one of the most common and notorious symptoms of menopause, dsm-firmenich has developed geniVidashares Mary Phillips, marketing director of HNC NA dietary supplements at dsm-firmenich.

“It is a hormone-free isoflavone that mimics estrogenic effects. This safe and effective pure form of genistein is low dose, soy-free, tasteless, odorless, colorless and allergen-free.

“Dsm-firmenich showed that 30 mg of geniVida taken daily would significantly reduce the frequency of hot flashes in postmenopausal women. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled scientific study was published in a peer-reviewed journal.

She details that the study showed a reduction in hot flashes within a few weeks – 30% after four weeks and 44% after 12 weeks.

PharmaLinea Your Meno Ease capsules target the relief of menopausal symptoms (Image credit: PharmaLinea).Additionally, geniVida Bone Blend ingredient is combined with vitamin D, calcium, vitamin K and omega-3 to support long-term bone mineral density.

Resveratrol and soy isoflavones
Maja Orešnik, Scientific and Research Director at PharmaLinea, explains that the company’s choice of ingredients is supported by clinical studies that support the beneficial effects of their raw materials for a specific indication.

“PharmaLinea Your Meno Ease capsules are a clinically supported natural solution for relief of menopausal symptoms. They combine a branded source of resveratrol, soy isoflavones and vitamin B6.

“Soy isoflavones are one of the best-known phytoestrogens that mimic the actions of hormones naturally found in the body. Through their ability to bind to activate estrogen receptors, isoflavones can benefit various tissues, including bone tissue, the cardiovascular system, and the urinary tract. They also reduce menopausal transition symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Orešnik adds that resveratrol is essential for ensuring cognitive and cardiovascular health, mainly due to its vasodilatory properties.

“We use a yeast-derived resveratrol that has been specifically studied in postmenopausal women and has shown positive results for cognitive and cardiovascular health in this population. Additionally, beneficial outcomes include improvements in markers of bone metabolism, reduction in pain perception, and improvement in general menopausal symptoms.

By Jolanda van Hal, with additional reporting by William Bradford Nichols

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