The supplement is designed for women in all life stages but especially those suffering from low levels of iron, and was chosen by the judges because it takes a “unique probiotic approach to reducing iron deficiency.”
“Women make up half the population, yet we’re still significantly underrepresented in science and healthcare,” Mary Farrell, scientific affairs manager at Probi, told NutraIngredients. “Historically, many products haven’t been developed with women in mind, so we really wanted to address that gap.”
Target demographic
As Farrell explained, iron deficiency is a particularly prevalent issue among women.
“We chose to focus on iron absorption because approximately one third of women globally suffer from iron deficiency anemia, a figure that increases during menstruation, pregnancy and the postpartum period due to higher iron needs,” she said.
Farrell highlighted that up to 78% of people who take traditional iron tablets experience side effects, underscoring the need to for better alternatives.
“One of the major challenges with iron supplements is the gastrointestinal side effects, in that they’re often quite harsh on the digestive system and if severe, can lead to discontinuation of iron treatment,” she said.
“This is where LP299V comes in, it has been shown to enhance iron absorption, meaning a lower dose is needed, and it also helps maintain iron in its bioavailable form while reducing those unwanted side effects.”
Farrell emphasized that the ultimate goal was to improve nutritional outcomes by making iron more tolerable in reducing side effects so people could continue taking it and “actually get the benefits”.
“I do think most people are aware that iron supplements often cause digestive discomfort and many are hesitant to take them for that reason,” she said.
“That’s why we highlight how our product helps protect the gut, strengthens the intestinal barrier, and makes iron easier to tolerate.”
A recent randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 295 patients with newly diagnosed iron‑deficiency anemia found that supplementation with LP299V reduced gastrointestinal intolerance from 46.5% with an iron-only supplement to 13.0%.
Results also found that early treatment discontinuation within 30 days fell from 15.9% to 3.6% with LP299V supplementation, indicating improved tolerability and fewer side effects commonly associated with iron treatment.
Compliant formulating
Probi Female is primarly based on the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v probiotic strain.
Farrell explained that Probi has included small amounts of iron and vitamin C as well as folic acid in the formulation, primarily to meet European regulatory requirements. These ingredients enable the company to make approved claims related to supporting iron absorption.
“The iron and vitamin C are involved at minimal levels as we know from our extensive research that the main active component is our probiotic strain, LP299V,” she said.
“There are 10 clinical trials showing that LP299V not only improves iron absorption and iron stores but also significantly reduces gastrointestinal side effects during iron therapy. So while those additional nutrients are included for compliance, it’s the probiotic LP299V that drives the real results.”
The NI Awards
According to Farrell, the NutraIngredients Awards exist to recognize scientific value.
“We applied for the NutraIngredients Awards because it’s a meaningful recognition, especially for a science-focused company like ours,” she said.
“The judges are highly credible experts in the field, and that really matters to us. We’ve been committed to science from day one, so for over 30 years now, and being recognized for that dedication is incredibly rewarding.”
