The Rosell® Institute for Microbiome and Probiotics by Lallemand in collaboration with Clinique ovo, has published a new study titled "The Effect of Probiotics on Health in Pregnancy and Infants: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial" in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, marking a significant advancement in probiotic research in women’s health.
Sylvie Binda, one of the paper’s lead authors and Vice-President of Research and Development at Lallemand Health Solutions, explains: “We are very proud to announce the publication of this study, which involved a large cohort of healthy pregnant women and included follow-up of their babies up to one year of age. This research is innovative, and we worked closely with experts to deepen our understanding of vertical microbial transfer in the establishment of the infant’s microbiome. We also gained new insights into pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester.”
About Prenatis™: Nurturing life, from mum to baby
In this clinical trial, Lallemand Health Solutions confirmed the efficacy of Prenatis™, its latest probiotic formulation, which contains two proprietary strains known for their safety and effectiveness: Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell®-11 and Bifidobacterium bifidum HA-132.
Prenatis™ was evaluated in a large-scale clinical trial involving 180 healthy women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Participants received 5 billion CFU of Prenatis™ daily for 12 weeks before birth and continued supplementation for an additional 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Follow-ups were conducted with both mothers and their infants up to one year of age.
The results demonstrated a significant reduction in the proportion of women who exprienced at least one diagnosed infection in the Prenatis™ group. There was also a trend toward reduced incidence of bacterial vaginosis, one of the most diagnosed infections during pregnancy due to microflora dysbiosis. In newborns, the study showed a significant reduction in the number of sick days and positive effects on gut microbiome establishment, particularly in infants delivered by C-section due to the vertical transmission from the mom to the baby. Additionally, exclusively breastfed infants—regardless of delivery mode—benefited from enhanced colonisation of beneficial bacteria.
These findings highlight Prenatis™ as a safe and effective formula for supporting maternal health during pregnancy and promoting the development of a healthy infant microbiome through breastfeeding.
Prenatis™ can be combined with other probiotic strains and enriched with essential nutrients such as vitamin B9 (folic acid). It is available in a variety of convenient formats, including sachets, sticks, orodispersible powders, and capsules in blisters or bottles—ensuring ease of use for expectant mothers.
Marie-Laure Oula, Director of Clinical Operations, adds: “This study is the result of several years of collaboration with clinical experts in women’s health, paediatrics, and microbiome science. The combined expertise of Lallemand and Clinique ovo was instrumental in achieving one of the largest mother-infant dyads study to date. We are proud to share the outcomes of this successful partnership, which offers new, natural, and safe solutions to support women during pregnancy and promote the health of their newborns.”
Dr. Jacques Kadoch, Medical Director and founding member of Clinique ovo, emphasised: “This study represents a major scientific milestone for our research team and brings encouraging news for pregnant women. We are proud of the results we have achieved.”
Lallemand’s research team will be presenting the findings of this innovative study at several scientific conferences and trade shows in the coming months. Follow the team’s updates on LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest developments, or visit the dedicated page.
