Formulations that speak to the rhythm of women’s wellness

By ELENA GERONA, correspondent

 

 

 

Women’s health has become a priority of many nutrition-focused ingredients companies. It is meant to positively impact women’s wellbeing and to create a ripple effect around their families and communities, according to Dr. Celia Ning, Scientific Affairs senior director for Kerry.

 

Centuries of tradition have called on women to be primary homemakers and to be responsible for raising children. “So, when we invest in women or prioritize women's health, it's not just about care. It's unlocking the potential of the whole family or unlocking the potential of the whole society,” she said.

 

Indeed, the World Health Organization confirms that investing in women's health is a strategic necessity for achieving sustainable development and fostering equity across the globe.

 

“Growth in the APAC women’s health market is extremely positive,” Dr. Ning noted, citing Euromonitor data. “It is expected to reach USD18 billion by 2030.”

 

Female-focused consumer data gathered by Kerry indicates that 52% of those surveyed are moderately or extremely concerned about women’s health issues while 44% are looking for new solutions to prevent or treat women’s health issues.

 

Compared to men, women go through many more life stages and through these “milestones”, whether puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, and women certainly need very special nutrition care, she also noted.

 

Kerry addresses how customers can differentiate their wellness solutions through bioactives with clinically validated benefits. In the APAC women’s health market, female-centric products can be developed to offer natural remedies in novel and functional formats.

 

Two such ingredients from the ProActive Health Portfolio are positioned for women seeking safe, natural and lasting health solutions to life cycle challenges: Caronositol Fertility® for women with reproductive health challenges and Sensoril® for improving the quality of life of post-menopausal women.

 

 

 

Year-on-year growth in APAC's women’s health market signals a USD18 billion opportunity by 2030.  (Photo © Serezniy | Dreamstime.com)

 

Life cycle challenges

Women of reproductive age can fail to conceive owing to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance associated with insulin resistance. It is characterized by irregular periods and infrequent ovulation; excess androgen, the steroid hormone that regulates the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics; and the detection of ovarian cysts during an ultrasound scan.

 

While PCOS is the most common female hormonal imbalance, affecting 6%–13% of women during their reproductive life, data from Kerry shows that up to 70% go undiagnosed.

 

“This is the critical part for women who want to have children yet cannot conceive because they suffer from PCOS unknowingly,” Dr. Ning said.

 

As the reproductive cycle slows down, the next significant stage is menopause. Based on the consumer data that Kerry has compiled, 80% of women have symptoms around menopause, and 64% say these symptoms impact their emotional health.

 

Every woman is actually worried to a certain degree about the symptoms that will occur like hot flashes, night sweating and mood swings,” she said. “And, even in worst cases, the urge to commit suicide.

 

“Why? All because of hormonal imbalance.”

 

Transformative solutions

Kerry has spent years formulating solutions to contain hormonal imbalance and to ensure their efficacy through clinical studies. Caronositol Fertility, its patented technology to help women solve infertility – including those caused by PCOS – can alleviate potential hormonal imbalances in women.

 

Women with PCOS are deficient in two forms of inositols: Myo-inositol (MYO) and D chiro-inositol (DCI). In a healthy ovary, insulin stimulates the enzyme epimerase to convert MYO to DCI to maintain hormonal levels and facilitate ovarian function. A higher concentration of MYO in the ovary is required to ensure healthy production and development of oocytes (egg cells).

 

In the polycystic ovary, there is a higher DCI-to-MYO ratio because systemic insulin resistance promotes epimerase activity. “In the PCOS situation, women face reproductive challenges, So therefore you have irregular menstruation or you miss menstruation and no mature egg is produced, and hence infertility,” Dr. Ning reiterated.

 

Inositol therapy in the prevention and management of PCOS is gaining wide acceptance. Through decades of research and metadata, however, Kerry found that the traditional 40:1 ratio in available solutions is not sufficient in addressing hormonal imbalances. What differentiates Caronositol Fertility is the patented 3.6:1 ratio of MYO : DCI.

 

Caronositol ingredients come from natural raw ingredients. DCI is extracted from the carob bean tree, very popular in the Mediterranean area and widely used for nutrition and medical purposes, and the MYO from corn phytins.

 

"We have carefully conducted multiple clinical studies among European and the Asian populations and found this patented ratio of 3.6:1 to be much more potent than the traditional 40:1 ratio.”

 

Primary findings from one 12-week randomized controlled trial show higher pregnancy rates in women with PCOS given high doses of DCI combined with MYO compared to the women given a traditional 40:1 dose. These findings include: 153% increases pregnancy rate; 173% reduces the rate of miscarriages; and 272% improves in live birth rate.  A significant reduction in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a common side effect during IVF treatment that can include swelling and vomiting.

 

With respect to Kerry’s bioactive form for menopause, Sensoril is a well-researched root and leaf ashwagandha extract that has been studied in over 15 published research papers, including clinical, preclinical, and biomarker trials. The latest clinical research, published in the Journal of Menopausal Medicine in April, highlights Sensoril’s ability to support symptom management and improve the quality of life of postmenopausal women aged 40-55 years.

 

In this randomized, double blind and placebo-controlled trial, 127 women were given different doses over 24 weeks. Results from the Sensoril group indicated significant improvement in menopause-specific quality of life measured in terms of the vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains.

 

Solutions in convenient formats

Natural, science-backed ingredients like Caronositol and Sensoril will be indispensable to reaching the thousands of Asian women suffering from hormonal imbalance during life milestones.

 

Already, these solutions have become available in other markets as nutritional supplements or as on-shot beverages. Now Kerry’s ProActive Health division has introduced two new concepts specifically for the Asian market that can be backed by claims, offer convenience, are natural and vegan.

 

Anakkapan Danjarern, regional business development manager for Kerry ProActive Health, said the first concept optimizes well-being during menopause. “Menocalm Shots”, a portable, single-use format, is formulated with three ingredients: Sensoril to address symptoms like hot flashes, perspiration and feeling of anxiety and anger, as well as insomnia, lack of concentration lethargy, and vaginal dryness; Magnesium to reduce anxiety and improve sleep, and Kerry technology for the taste modulation and a natural berry flavor enhances the taste of the portable shot.

 

Another of Kerry’s new convenient formats is crafted to promote fertility and hormonal balance in women with PCOS. The “Fertili-Ease Stick” with 1,400mg of Caronositol Fertility. This sachet format can reduce the pill fatigue for the consumer. It is vegan, naturally sweetened with lychee and soluble with the water. Products formulated with this science-backed 3.6:1 ratio of Myo-inositol and DIC-inositol supports pregnancy in women, menstrual regulation, hormonal and metabolic balance, and skin health, Mr. Danjarern said.

 

Kerry presented these health solution concepts at Fi Asia 2025, under the theme, “Reformulate for Impact”.