New clinical research has shown that a proprietary probiotic blend from AB-BIOTICS and Kaneka Probiotics improves menopause-related symptoms and quality of life.1 Commercialized in the US as KABP® Menopause and in Europe as Gyntima® Menopause, these findings make the blend the first and only commercially-available probiotic ingredient to clinically demonstrate both estrogen modulation and menopausal symptom improvement, offering supplement brands a clinically substantiated, natural solution for one of the fastest-growing categories in women’s health.
Published in The Journal of The Menopause Society, the findings build on research showing that Levilactobacillus brevis KABP® 052, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP® 051, and Pediococcus acidilactici KABP® 021 helped to sustain estrogen levels in peri- and postmenopausal women by modulating the estrobolome—a subset of gut bacteria involved in estrogen metabolism.2 For the first time, these new results suggest this blend’s effects on the estrobolome can translate into tangible improvements in the health and wellbeing of women experiencing menopause.
“More than one billion women worldwide are currently experiencing or have gone through the menopausal transition,3 which profoundly impacts multiple aspects of health and quality of life,” comments María Rodríguez-Palmero, Medical Director at AB-BIOTICS, and lead author on the study. “While scientific investment and innovation in this area have expanded over recent years, consumer research suggests that the vast majority of women feel poorly served by the solutions currently available to them. Research highlights a significant unmet need in menopause care, with only around 45% of European women reporting satisfaction with available options, and only 7% of peri- and postmenopausal women in the US being “very satisfied” with over-the-counter options.4,5 The findings of this new study on Gyntima® Menopause / KABP® Menopause probiotic blend is an important step toward changing that.”
In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 245 peri- and postmenopausal women aged 45–60 with mild to moderate symptoms received either the probiotic blend of L. brevis KABP® 052, L. plantarum KABP® 051, and P. acidilactici KABP® 021 (1 billion CFU/day) or placebo for 12 weeks.6 The study was conducted using a real-world approach, with participants maintaining their usual diet and lifestyle throughout.
Over three months, the probiotic group showed a significant improvement in menopause-associated symptoms and quality of life in comparison with placebo. These outcomes were assessed by using validated, well-established scales, such as the Menopause Rating Scale II (MRS-II). The MRS-II is a self-administered, health-related quality of life scale designed to assess the impact of both physical and psychological symptoms associated with the menopause. Particularly notable improvements were seen in the overall MRS-II somato-vegetative domain, which encompasses symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and heart discomfort. Within the psychological domain, significant reductions were observed in depressive mood as well as a trend toward improved physical and mental exhaustion. Fully aligned with these results, significantly greater improvements in Utian Quality of Life scores, which quantifies sense of well-being in peri- and postmenopausal women, were seen in the probiotic group versus placebo.
The probiotic blend has previously been shown to modulate serum estrogen levels through β-glucuronidase (GUS) enzyme activity7. This bacterial enzyme deconjugates estrogens in the gut, allowing them to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream rather than eliminated8, thereby contributing to systemic hormonal balance using the body’s own resources. The lead strain of the Gyntima® Menopause / KABP® Menopause blend, L. brevis KABP® 052, was selected from over 80 candidates for its high GUS activity.9 Complementing this, L. plantarum KABP® 051 and P. acidilactici KABP® 021, strengthen the gut barrier which is often compromised during menopause. Naturally present in the human gut, both strains also produce beneficial compounds such as short-chain fatty acids and agents to maintain a well-balanced gut microbiome.10,11,12
“Together, these findings demonstrate how KABP® Menopause / Gyntima® Menopause can support women navigating the menopausal transition by targeting the root cause of symptoms,” explains Jordi Riera, Chief Business Officer at Kaneka Probiotics. “As demand for natural, hormone-free menopause support continues to accelerate, the need for clinically substantiated ingredients has never been greater. No other probiotic ingredient has this depth of clinical evidence for estrogen modulation, which gives supplement formulators a differentiated, science-backed foundation meeting that demand.”
Learn more about the Gyntima® Menopause / KABP® Menopause blend and other probiotic ingredients designed to support the unique health needs of women here: https://www.ab-biotics.com/therapeutic-areas/womens-health/ or here: Probiotics for Vaginal, Urogenital & Menopausal Wellness
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