The well-being of women depends on a healthy microbiota

The antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties of a multi-strains formulation* (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PBS067, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL050 e Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH020) has been evaluated on vaginal and bladder epithelia infected with Candida glabrata, Neisseria gonorrheae, Trichomonas vaginalis and Escherichia coli.

In vitro results showed a full inhibition of T. vaginalis and a reduction in C. glabrata and N. gonorrheae growth as well as a positive inhibitory result has been achieved with E. coli. Co-aggregation between probiotics and vaginal pathogens as Gardnerella vaginalis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans was also investigated, showing probiotics’ ability to co-aggregate with pathogens, reducing their growth and infectious activity.

Several clinical trials have been assessed to determine probiotic efficacy in first colonizing and persisting in the vagina through oral intake. Results during the treatment, and even seven days after the last product intake, demonstrated that strains can reach the vagina migrating from the gastrointestinal tract, in line with the GI colonization observed in another study.

Then, a second trial assesses a common women’s condition, bacterial vaginosis and recurrent relapses. 75 women divided into active and control groups after antibiotic treatment have been enrolled for 5 months’ treatment. In the active group, the recurrence rate dropped dramatically to 16%, against 40% in control (p<0,001). Microbiota analysis during the trial highlighted a recovered lactobacilli portion in the Femme group, against a perturbed microbiota characterized by lactobacilli depletion in the control.

Additionally, the probiotics have been clinically tested on 50 post-menopausal women in restoring vaginal microbiota after 28 days of probiotic administration. Results reported an interesting improvement of vaginal well-being in all participants.