She also provided consumer advice: Don’t just look for the highest bacterial counts—research strain names, clinical testing, proper dosing and shelf-life viability instead.
“It’s not necessarily the more the merrier,” said Dr. Vegge. “It’s more a matter of ‘is the probiotic in the clinically-tested dose in the [final] product?’ And then again is it there at the end of shelf life or is it just there at the time of manufacture—so I would say the strain, the dose and the end of shelf life and can the consumer trust that they will receive that effect when taking the products throughout the shelf life and then again also does the science and the claims match?”
The conversation also explored the remarkable 20% growth in women’s health products, driven by demand for personalized, holistic solutions tailored to different life phases. She emphasizes how science has evolved to recognize women’s distinct health needs and the need for specific clinical evidence, moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches.
As a leader in R&D, Dr. Vegge highlighted essential leadership qualities such as collaboration, strategic thinking, resilience and the ability to bridge between teams and customers. She expressed excitement about Probi’s acquisition by Symrise, anticipating new opportunities in the expanded health solutions portfolio.
