Menopause health: Bonafide unveils probiotic Clairvee as “natural approach" to boost vaginal microbiome
05 Nov 2021 --- Provider of natural supplements Bonafide is releasing Clairvee, an oral probiotic designed to restore and balance the vaginal microbiome. The release comes as more consumers are looking for a natural approach to manage menopause symptoms.
According to The North American Menopause Society, hormonal changes during menopause can significantly disrupt the vaginal microbiome, negatively impacting vaginal health and exacerbating disruptive symptoms like vaginal itching, odor and discharge.
Therefore Clairvee is bringing a “long-overdue” solution for the millions of menopausal women who want to restore and maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome and relieve uncomfortable symptoms caused by imbalance.
“There are many pH disruptors including the hormone changes of perimenopause and menopause. There has never been a better time to have a safe and effective probiotic geared toward vaginal health supported with clinical research,” Dr. Alyssa Dweck, chief medical officer at Bonafide, tells PersonalCareInsights.
Offering “month-long protection”
Clairvee is a once-daily oral capsule that needs to be taken for 15 consecutive days each month, Dweck explains.
“The remaining days are ‘off’ until the following month. Probiotic protection continues to increase even on the days when Clairvee is not taken. Month-long protection is provided to the vaginal microbiome,” she continues.
Menopause leads to hormonal changes that disrupt the balance of the vaginal microbiome and vaginal pH, leading to symptoms like odor, itch and discharge.
The vaginal microbiome is a complex and dynamic micro-ecosystem that constantly fluctuates across all stages of a woman’s life, from menstruation, through postmenopause.
While there has been a significant amount of research focused on understanding the dynamics of the vaginal microbiota in reproductive-aged women, recent studies have begun to elucidate how the vaginal microbiome can be affected by menopause.
Capsule-in-capsule technology
Clairvee’s probiotic blend is formulated with a capsule-in-capsule technology designed to protect the live, active probiotics within each capsule that delay their release when ingested. This ensures optimal probiotic viability and effectiveness.
The outer capsule also serves as a barrier to oxygen, moisture and heat, so no refrigeration is required.
Clairvee’s capsule-in-capsule technology is suspended in liquid folate and sealed in a second outer capsule, details Dweck.
A blend of probiotic strains
The Clairvee probiotic is a blend of the Clairvee vaginal probiotic formula, lactoferrin and folate.
Each ingredient in Clairvee’s patented formulation works together to provide maximum probiotic viability and effectiveness, Dweck adds.
The Clairvee vaginal probiotic formula has live, active probiotic strains – Lactobacilli acidophilus and Lactobacilli rhamnosus – specific to the vaginal flora that is clinically shown to balance and maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome.
Clairvee is a once-daily oral capsule that needs to be taken for 15 consecutive days each month (Credit: Bonafide).
“Additionally, lactoferrin is a key component of the natural vaginal defense system that works together with the Clairvee vaginal blend to help create a protective biofilm. The folic acid in the folate ingredient provides micronutrient support as folate plays a role in maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome.”
Clairvee has been studied across four placebo-controlled trials in over 170 women.
“We’ve set out to provide the menopause treatment category with a new standard of products that meet the needs of women and OBGYNs seeking effective, safe, and naturally derived alternatives to hormonal drugs,” concludes Michael Satow, co-founder and CEO of Bonafide.
Hormone-free menopause NPD
Industry players have been interested in developing hormone-free and natural products that target and relieve menopause symptoms. In this space, Pharmactive’s Affron ingredient, a saffron extract, was linked to improved psychological symptoms in perimenopausal women in a study. Last month Hum Nutrition released an estrogen-free solution for menopause symptom relief.
Meanwhile, Ami Wellness previously launched a pain relief line based on adaptogenic ingredients that target symptoms of PMS and menopause.
By Nicole Kerr
