AB-Biotics spotlights probiotic blend’s ability to regulate hormones in menopause
Dr. Marta Pérez, the firm’s R&D manager, delivered a presentation during a session titled "Understanding Menopause" that included a preview of the results of AB-Biotics’ latest study validating the blend’s ability to support a healthy microbiome during this life stage.
She explained that menopause is marked by the decline in estrogen hormones which are involved in many bodily systems including metabolism, muscle formation, bone health and skin hydration, to name a few. What's more, menopausal woman have shown to have a lower gut microbiome diversity than in perimenopause.
This led AB-Biotics to research the menopausal estrobolome—the collection of bacteria in the gut which is capable of metabolizing and modulating the body's circulating estrogen—in order to select strains that could be beneficial during this life stage.
After developing their blend of three patented strains L. plantarum KABP 051, L. brevis KABP 052 and P. acidilactici KABP 021, they conducted an randomized controlled trial to see if it could reduce the decline of estrogens during menopause.
Dr. Pérez explained that the yet unpublished trial enrolled 100 healthy (experiencing only mild symptoms) peri and post-menopausal women in Japan to receive either the probiotic formula or a placebo over 12 weeks. Serum estrogen levels were measured and fecal samples were analyzed before and after intervention.
"We observed that in the placebo group, estrogens significantly decreased over time," she said. "On the contrary in the probiotic group, the levels were maintained over time."
Surprisingly, the researchers did not observe any notable change in the bacteria in fecal samples, which Dr. Pérez suggested meant the impacts were taking place in the upper GI tract.
"This is the first time that a probiotic has been shown to regulate hormones," she said, adding that the researchers did not evaluate symptoms as they first wanted to prove the mechanism of action.
An upcoming study will investigate the experienced effect of the supplement in a cohort of European menopausal women with severe symptoms.
The full Gyntima women’s health portfolio includes: Gyntima Cyscare with L. plantarum KABP 062 and 063, plus cranberry extract, vitamin C and D-Mannose for urinary tract infection protection; Gyntima Balance with a confidential probiotic strain currently undergoing patent protection, biotin, selenium, zinc and vitamin D to inhibit vaginal pathogens and booth immunity; and Gyntima Fertility with a confidential strain, folic acid, vitamin D3 and selenium to balance the vaginal microbiota.
