Frutarom ingredient eases bladder-related discomforts

AN OVERACTIVE bladder, or the sudden urge to urinate, affects many women. Recently, a clinical study on Go-Less?, a product developed and marketed by Frutarom Health BU for this condition, indicated its effectiveness in reducing symptoms.

The placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial conducted by Shim, B., et al., at Ewha Woman’s University, Seoul, South Korea, with support from Frutarom Health, appears in the April issue of Journal of Functional Foods^[i].

The study involved 120 women suffering from overactive bladder-related voiding dysfunction, and who were aged between 35 and 70 years. They were made to take 500 mg of Go-Less or matching placebo tablets (60 placebo/60 test group) twice a day during a 12-week period. The average frequency of nocturia was measured, showing, a notable decrease of around 30%.

After week 12, a significant decrease of the daily average frequency of urination was reported. There was a substantial decrease in the average urgency score in the Go-Less group. “Urgency is one of the biggest inconvenience conditions, in practice, for people suffering from overactive bladder,” says Patricia Maureira, product manager of LifeLine? at Frutarom Health. “It can be frustrating and constraining, and lead affected people to feel insecure.”

Blend of two effective ingredients

Go-Less is a proprietary blend of a water-soluble pumpkin seed extract (EFLA^?940) and the soy germ extract, SoyLife^?. Separately, these ingredients have been marketed for many years, but now together in one proprietary new blend, the pumpkin seeds and the hormone-balancing action of soy germ isoflavones, are effective.

The functionality of Go-Less was also confirmed by a survey on the subjective satisfaction of the participants, as conducted at the end of the trial period. More than 90% of the subjects in the Go-Less group found the product helpful and answered affirmatively when asked if they would like to continue taking the study product. This compares to about 50% in the placebo group.

“The market for urinary health remedies in adults is fast growing, especially in Western Europe and the U.S. where Baby Boomers and younger sufferers are seeking natural and effective remedies to match their healthy lifestyle,” adds Ms Maureira. “The result of this study confirms that Go-Less is an effective, natural aid for addressing overactive bladder and urinary incontinency. It therefore is a valuable ingredient, with highly attractive positioning opportunities in the growing market for urinary health-supporting products.”

Go-Less opens a broad range of application possibilities, offering manufacturers of food supplements and nutraceuticals a unique ingredient to benefit from the growing market of urinary health. It can be used in capsules, tablets, powdered beverages, bladder support formulations, women’s health and prostate health formulations.