New data positions AB-Biotics and Kaneka’s probiotic as candidate for women’s health applications

AB-Biotics and Kaneka Probiotics’ Lactobacillus gasseri (L. gasseri) KABP 064 has been found in a clinical trial to colonize the vaginal microbiota of healthy women when taken as an oral supplement. Therefore, the probiotic strain may promote vaginal health. It also demonstrated support for a balanced vaginal environment. 

This study aimed to identify strains of vaginal lactobacilli that can resist gastrointestinal conditions and colonize the vaginal tract to support a balanced microbiota. 

“This trial confirms the strain survives gastrointestinal transit and successfully colonizes the vagina, establishing a healthy microbial community. This offers a convenient and non-invasive administration route with proven efficacy, a significant advantage for user compliance and preference over topical formats,” Marta Pérez, R&D manager at AB-Biotics and lead author of the study, tells Personal Care Insights. 

She explains that a healthy vaginal ecosystem is crucial for supporting women’s urogenital health, which can significantly impact women’s day-to-day lives. 

“The administration of probiotics via vaginal tablets or creams has demonstrated efficacy in reducing infection recurrence. However, oral probiotics for vaginal health remain relatively understudied despite their many advantages, including patient experience and compliance.”

Supporting the vaginal microbiome

The study, published in August 2025 in the American Society for Microbiology journal, Microbiology Spectrum, included healthy women aged 18 to 45 and lasted 18 days.

Pérez explains that after oral administration, L. gasseri KABP 064 grows and colonizes the vagina, helping shift the vaginal microbiome to a healthier state. 

The vaginal probiotics are for women seeking to prevent or correct vaginal dysbiosis.“These beneficial bacteria produce lactic acid, essential for maintaining a low, protective pH. This acidic environment inhibits the growth of pathogenic microbes. It helps shift the microbiome toward an optimal state known as Community State Type I (CST I) — an environment dominated by protective L. gasseri and crispatus species.”

She explains that the CST I profile strongly correlates with a healthy vaginal ecosystem and a reduced risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis.

For various life stages

The vaginal probiotics are for women seeking to prevent or correct vaginal dysbiosis. 

Vaginal dysbiosis is an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome and is primarily linked to a significantly higher risk of urogenital infections, including bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and urinary tract infections. 

“This imbalance also compromises the mucosal barrier, which can increase susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, vaginal dysbiosis is linked to adverse reproductive outcomes, including reduced fertility and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes,” says Pérez.

“While conditions like bacterial vaginosis are most prevalent during the reproductive years (ages 15-44), other demographics can also benefit. For example, menopausal women experience hormonal fluctuations that decrease endogenous lactobacilli, making probiotics a valuable tool for supporting the microbiome during this transition.”

Probiotics also benefit individuals with recurrent infections or those whose microbiome may be disrupted by antibiotic use.

Gut-vagina axis

The industry increasingly investigates the gut-skin axis, innovating in supplements for “beauty from within,” nutricosmetics, and neutraceutical applications. However, there is also a connection between the gut and vagina.

“The connection is understood through the ‘gut-vagina axis,’ where the gut acts as a reservoir for urogenital bacteria. Due to anatomical proximity, microbes can translocate from the rectum to the perineum, ultimately ascending into the vaginal tract,” Pérez explains. 

She says that the clinical success of the trial provides strong evidence for this pathway, demonstrating that the strain survives gastrointestinal transit and successfully colonizes the vagina. 

“This highlights how gut health can directly influence the composition of the vaginal microbiome. Probiotic strains for oral consumption must withstand the harsh and diverse environments of the oral-gut-vaginal route.”