For this new edition of Vitafoods Europe, Ingood by Olga continues to innovate to offer solutions combining health benefits, nutrition, plant-based ingredients, and accessibility. Olga’s ingredient division aims to address specific niche markets, such as plant-based solutions for sports nutrition or women’s health, in line with the hypersegmentation trend seen in the nutrition and nutraceutical markets.
NEW REAL-LIFE STUDY ON WOMEN’S HEALTH - SULFODYNE®
A new real-life study on 50 women confirms the effectiveness of SULFODYNE®, the unique and authentic form of natural and active sulforaphane in managing premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Women’s health: a segment in need of solutions
1 in 2 women suffers from menstrual pain. However, there are no real solutions available on the market to address these symptoms. With 8 out of 10 dietary supplements purchased by women in France, the women’s health market is more than an opportunity, it is a segment in need of solutions. Women’s health is large and covering many symptoms or life stages that have long been ignored by medical research, many of which are linked to an uncontrolled inflammatory process. The role of sulforaphane, particularly through the activation of Nrf2, is gaining interest in managing certain women’s health issues, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Premenstrual syndrome: so common and yet so poorly understood
PMS affects between 30% and 50% of women. PMS symptoms are both physical (bloating, headaches, pain, etc.) and psychological (mood swings, anxiety, depression, etc.). They appear 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation, subside with the onset of menstruation, and are cyclical and recurrent. Recently, a mechanism of action involved in PMS development has been identified: oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, observed through the presence of specific biomarkers associated with these two mechanisms in women with PMS symptoms. For instance, a study on women with PMS showed a correlation between high levels of inflammatory factors (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12) and total PMS symptom scores. Other inflammatory markers associated with migraines, a common PMS symptom, such as TNF-α, CRP, and IL-6, are also elevated in women with PMS. Another study showed that women with PMS had higher levels of oxidative stress markers, such as ROS, which can damage to neuronal cells and cause mood changes6.
SULFODYNE®: effective for PMS management
Sulforaphane has well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in scientific literature, notably through the activation of Nrf2, which reduces certain oxidative stress markers like ROS, as well as pro-inflammatory parameters, reducing and controlling the inflammatory state in various in vitro and in vivo models.
Recent studies highlight an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect of sulforaphane through Nrf2 activation. Sulforaphane also has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects in several pain models. These effects are explained by a reduction in markers such as IL6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. SULFODYNE®, standardised to 5% sulforaphane, is an excellent candidate for modulating PMS symptoms, particularly by reducing inflammation through pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects while providing anxiolytic and antidepressant benefits.
To obtain initial proof of concept, Ingood by Olga conducted a real-life study with SULFODYNE® on 50 healthy women aged between the ages of 20 and 40 suffering from PMS-related symptoms, using a quota method in France. Over three cycles, participants consumed SULFODYNE® at a dose of 2 x 200 mg per day, 7 days before their periods and during the first 3 days of menstruation.
The study results confirm the effectiveness of SULFODYNE® for PMS management, offering a holistic approach:
- 84% of women who tested SULFODYNE® reported a reduction in PMS-related discomfort, and more than 9 out of 10 reported an improvement in their emotional state and a reduction in pain.
- 94% of women found it to fast-acting starting from the first cycle.
- 86% of women experienced an improvement in their quality of life.
The study also showed a high recommendation rate and strong purchase intent: 8 out of 10 women would recommend and buy SULFODYNE®.
SULFODYNE®: the unique and authentic active ingredient standardised to 5% stable and active sulforaphane
Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate naturally found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli in its precursor and inactive form as glucoraphanin. For sulforaphane to be optimally released and absorbed by the body, glucoraphanin must be converted into its active form by the enzyme myrosinase.
Various broccoli extracts are available on the market, most containing glucoraphanin, often misleadingly labeled as "sulforaphane glucosinolate," which is inactive in this form. Several studies have shown that the bioavailability of sulforaphane after ingesting glucoraphanin is very low, around 10%. While adding myrosinase can improve this bioavailability, it remains limited, around 30%. Myrosinase is a sensitive enzyme at acid pH levels that can be inactivated during digestion. The use of gastro-resistant capsules slightly improves the bioavailability of extracts containing glucoraphanin and myrosinase, but it only averages 36%.
SULFODYNE® is the only broccoli seed extract that contains sulforaphane in its free, active, and stable form, requiring no conversion, and its 5% standardization is the highest on the global market. Studies confirm that SULFODYNE® provides a sulforaphane bioavailability of 70%, seven times higher. Ingood by Olga aims to educate and raise awareness among market players about the importance of choosing the right source of sulforaphane to ensure optimal bioavailability in the finished product and provide real efficacy to consumers.
In conclusion
SULFODYNE® reduces PMS-related discomfort by acting on both on emotional and physical discomforts, in line with evidence already established from in vivo studies of pain and depression. It meets consumer expectations and contributes to improving the quality of life during PMS. Base on consumer feedback evaluated, Ingood by Olga intends to continue to study the role of SULFODYNE® in PMS management, particularly its mechanisms of action.