Kerry targets lifelong support for women’s health [Interview]

Women’s health is emerging as one of the top ten global health and nutrition trends of 2024. This encompasses physical conditions and mental wellbeing, all of which change throughout a woman’s lifetime in tandem with age-related shifts in physiology.

Recent global research shows that around 50% of female consumers are concerned about women’s health issues, with some 75% adopting a long-term approach to health maintenance.

“Female-specific symptoms and diseases are numerous and widespread, yet our understanding of the female body is not comparable to what we know about men,” explains Monsalve. “There are many unmet needs in this space, largely because women’s health issues have not been a focus of mainstream research.”

Driving progress in women’s health and innovating for better is a vital imperative for Kerry.

“Backed by our proprietary research, our portfolio of women’s health ingredients supports multiple and diverse health needs across life stages, from hormonal balance and fertility to breastfeeding, menopause and beyond,” continues Monsalve. “Building credible scientific evidence based on female populations is a priority to help manufacturers develop products that align with the needs of women across multiple life stages.”

Key health issues to be tackled

Monsalve highlights better understanding the effects of hormonal imbalances as a key issue that needs to be addressed. Hormonal imbalances in women can lead to difficulty conceiving and are responsible for the onset of life stages that include perimenopause and menopause. Fertility is another major health concern. Globally, one in six women experiences infertility.

“Hormonal imbalances are responsible for disrupting the delicate process of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle, leading to irregular cycles, failure to ovulate (anovulation), difficulty conceiving, or infertility,” she explains. “Hormonal fluctuations are the leading cause of infertility in women, and are associated with a range of syndromes related to problems with conceiving, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, and the leading cause of anovulatory infertility.”

Hormonal imbalances that disrupt reproductive health can take a toll on the wellbeing of women and their families, and Monsalve notes that global studies reflect a bi-directional relationship between reproductive health and mental health. Sexual and reproductive disorders can also lead to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, while psychological issues such as stress can affect a woman’s ability to conceive.

“Furthermore, as the global population of women aged 50 plus continues to increase, common need states will include perimenopause and menopause,” says Monsalve. “‘Perimenopause’ refers to the stage from when the first signs of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, and the cessation of menstrual first appear, until one year after the final menstrual period. Perimenopause can last several years and can affect physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. Perimenopause culminates with menopause, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years.”

While increases in life expectancy have boosted the worldwide peri- and menopausal population, innovations in women’s health have created opportunities for products with ingredients that can help women make the most of this life stage.

Lifelong balance to support overall wellbeing

Helping women achieve lifelong balance can support their overall wellbeing. Kerry’s ProActive Health portfolio is designed to offer premium quality, bioactive, scientifically backed ingredients specifically designed to support critical need states over a woman’s lifespan. The company’s women’s health ingredients are supported by over 50 published studies.

Key ingredients in Kerry’s portfolio include Caronositol and Caronositol Fertility, which offer plant-based benefits for women with PCOS and fertility-related conditions. Caronositol Fertility combines a patented ratio of D-chiro-inositol from the carob fruit and myo-inositol from corn phytin, helping to support the hormonal and metabolic balance in a woman’s reproductive cycle, including imbalances related to fertility. Monsalve notes that recent discoveries regarding the effectiveness of myo-inositols on hormone regulation may support hormonal regulation in women from puberty onward.

Luprenol meanwhile can help alleviate symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes, insomnia, and mood disturbances. LC40 is the first probiotic strain isolated from human breast milk, which has been shown to promote healthy breastfeeding – with benefits for both mother and baby.

“Kerry’s R&D, formulation, and marketing experts can work with businesses to turn cutting-edge research into the supplement and functional foods and beverages that women want,” says Monsalve. “Transparency in providing clearly defined claims for benefits helps to ensure an ingredient’s efficacy and provenance, which is especially important for consumers who want sustainable solutions.”

Kerry is sponsoring the Vitafoods Europe Women’s Networking Breakfast, which will take place on 15 May 2024. The event will consist of two panel discussions and a series of dedicated networking activities. Register now and be part of this empowering movement!