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Women’s health - the need for a targeted approach beyond a ‘one-size-fits-all’
Finally, women’s health is gaining the attention it deserves with increased focus on research and specialized healthcare services to address issues that are unique to women.
It’s a shift that is resulting in improved health outcomes and a greater understanding of how to support women through their various life stages.
“Historically there has been a lack of scientific evidence when it comes to the female physiology,” says Mariko Hill, Global Innovation Manager at Gencor. “Women’s health used to be a multivitamin packaged in pink but now we are starting to understand the complex and specific needs of women.”
“When it comes to communicating and educating on women’s health issues, it is pivotal that brands are at the forefront,” says Hill. “Whether it’s support for libido or bone health, the move beyond a one-solution-fits-all approach can help drive innovative solutions that target those different symptoms and speak to the individual.”
Women’s health encompasses a wealth of issues and life stages that are unique to the female body, including pre, peri and post-menopausal support. In a woman’s younger years, premenopausal health can involve navigating issues such as menstrual pain, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain.
As women transition into peri and post-menopause, a multitude of health challenges can arise. Menopausal health is closely linked to hormonal changes that lead to symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and loss of libido, among others.
As the protective effects of estrogen diminish, postmenopausal health presents additional challenges, such as bone health and cardiovascular health. The physical, economic and social challenges that these bring, sometimes with debilitating physical changes, is a very real issue for women as they transition into menopause.
Addressing these health concerns and supporting their specific challenges is crucial for promoting women’s long-term health and wellbeing.
Pre, peri and postmenopausal challenges
During a woman’s premenopausal years, menstrual discomfort or pain lasting 8-72 hours is the leading gynaecological condition affecting 45-95% of women.1 Sometimes the pain can be debilitating to the extent that it can limit movement or cause irritability. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be effective in dampening and reducing pain, prolonged use is associated with adverse effects, including disruption of the gut microbiome and negative impacts on muscle growth and adaptation.
Iron deficiency is another health challenge specific to women. Globally it is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency, affecting 20%-52% of menstruating women, increasing the risk of anaemia. This condition can be exacerbated in women who have nutrient deficiencies due to factors such as poor diet, limitations of nutrient intake (e.g. vegetarian or vegan diets) or food intolerances, as well as athletes who are at risk of increased losses of iron by sweating among other mechanisms.
Despite a positive and growing awareness of a ‘food-first’ approach, certain nutrients cannot optimally be absorbed by the body through food alone. While iron supplementation in menstruating women increases haemoglobin and iron stores, and reduces the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia, it can cause adverse effects, particularly to the gut, and lead to abdominal cramps and issues with stools. Effective iron absorption into the body is another challenge; and some women struggle to complete the monthly dose because of the associated adverse effects.
Energy and vitality can be a challenge for women throughout their life, prompting women to seek supplement support, such as B vitamins, to help combat fatigue. Hair health as the body ages is another challenge, and with women this often about enhancing their appearance, whether by achieving luscious, full-bodied hair, or by addressing hair loss. Bone health is also a challenge for both pre and menopausal women, who are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis as estrogen levels decline, particularly after menopause.
A growing need for supplement support
The global population of postmenopausal women is growing. A woman aged 60 years in 2019 could expect to live, on average, another 21 years; by 2025 it is estimated that there will be 1.1 billion postmenopausal women. Considering that 85% of women suffer during menopause and menopause, support via targeted supplementation has become a growing area of focus in women’s health.
Menopause symptoms range well beyond night sweats, hot flashes and low libido – Gencor’s Hill claims there are around 58 different symptoms associated with menopause. As their hormone levels fluctuate and decline, women can experience more feelings of anxiety, mood swings and feelings of distress – a cycle that can lead to increased stress.
More than a third of women in perimenopause or menopause report having sexual difficulties, from lack of interest in sex to trouble having an orgasm.2 The main culprit is declining levels of estrogen, which can reduce a person’s desire to have sex and make sexual arousal more difficult.
Low physical and emotional satisfaction and a low general happiness are linked to three sexual dysfunction categories: low desire, arousal disorder, and sexual pain. Stress can be a factor here, with the potential to disrupt the production of gonadotropin (one of the sex hormones produced by the ovaries).
“Menopause is inevitable,” says Hill. “So rather than preventing the onset of menopause, it's about helping reduce the symptoms associated with it.
“Instead of a steep crash into the hot flashes, the irritability and the mood swings, we can offer a gentle landing to help support the symptoms rather than trying to turn them off.”
The growing market for women’s health supplements underscores the growing demand for more holistic and effective support with more natural solutions that offer relief without the side effects associated with conventional aids.
Targeted support for iron levels, menstrual pain and hair health
Gencor is committed to developing science-led, innovative nutraceutical and botanical solutions that cater to the unique health needs of women. Its nature-inspired products are designed to provide effective support, enhancing women’s overall health and wellbeing throughout each life stage.
Levagen®+ is Gencor’s bioavailable form of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used to alleviate menstrual pain. During times of persistent pain, inflammation or stress, the body's levels of PEA decrease; this is where Levagen+ supplementation can help restore the body's natural reserves.
Among 12 published human clinical studies with Levagen+ across various need states, five focus on the area of pain, from reducing joint pain, headaches and migraines, to reducing diabetic neuropathic pain. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study on 76 menstruating women showed that a 350 mg dose of Levagen+ significantly reduced pain severity within one hour of intake, with continued effectiveness observed over the course of four months.
Iron is crucial for women, especially during menstruation, and an ongoing challenge to maintain healthy levels. HydroCurc®, a bioavailable form of curcumin that has demonstrated superior absorption compared to standard formulations, enhances iron absorption without the adverse effects typically associated with iron intake.
A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study involving 155 healthy males and females aged 18-40 showed that combining HydroCurc with iron significantly increased iron absorption safely. Compared to placebo, results showed increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – a protein involved in energy metabolism and memory formation – and an increase in ferritin (a blood protein that contains iron) with no adverse effects.
For hair health, Gencor's HairAge® focuses on preventing hair fall and promoting hair growth. Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of oral applications of HairAge, making it a versatile solution for maintaining luscious, full-bodied hair, particularly for aging women.
Targeted support for menopause symptoms
As well as supporting iron absorption, HydroCurc has also shown potential in addressing symptoms related to menopause, including joint pain, muscle recovery and inflammation.
LibiFem®, Gencor's standardised extract of fenugreek, is a novel approach to hormone balance, designed to support menopausal symptoms by targeting symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and low libido.
A 12-week double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study of 115 menopausal women aged 40-65 showed that participants supplementing 600 mg of LibiFem per day exhibited a reduction in menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. It also improved psychosocial, physical and sexual functioning.
HydroCurc®, a bioavailable form of curcumin has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that can help to reduce menopause symptoms.
A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study on 155 healthy participants (79 males and 76 females) assessed the effects of co-administering ferrous sulfate (FS) with bioavailable curcumin (HydroCurc) on inflammation and gastrointestinal side effects.
The study showed significant reductions in IL-6 levels and plasma TNF levels with high-dose iron and curcumin and low-dose iron and curcumin compared to their respective placebo groups. Lower IL-6 and TNF levels indicate reduced systemic inflammation, which can help alleviate inflammatory-related symptoms of menopause such as joint pain and mood swings.
Also helping to address menopause-related symptoms such as mood changes, hot flashes and night sweats, is Genopause®, a blend of four Ayurvedic botanicals – Tinospora cordifolia, Asparagus racemosus, Withania somnifera and Commiphora mukul.
A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study of 117 healthy women aged 40-65 years assessed the effects of supplementation of 75 mg Tinospora cardifolia, 100 mg Asparagus racemosus, 100 mg Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) and 225 mg Commiphora mukul per capsule, taken twice daily for 12 weeks.
Results showed a significant improvement in the total menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) score and in the vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains in the treatment group compared to the placebo group. Additionally, there was a notable reduction in total hot flushes, daytime hot flushes and night sweats in the treatment group.
“Gencor strives to be at the forefront when it comes to innovating with clinically-substantiated solutions for target outcomes,” says Hill. “We have a responsibility within the industry to create bespoke, safe and effective solutions for women and our innovations are always led by science.”
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.References
1. AJGP. Dysmenorrhea: An update on primary healthcare management.
2. John Hopkins Medicine. Sex After Menopause.