Maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiota is essential to women’s overall well-being. Yet, stress, antibiotics, and hormonal changes can disrupt this delicate ecosystem—known as vaginal dysbiosis—increasing the risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), and yeast infections (VVC).
Now, a newly published clinical trial in Microbiology Spectrum brings exciting news: oral supplementation with the probiotic strain L. gasseri KABP® 064, marketed as Gyntima® Balance, can be detected in the vaginal tract of healthy women and promote a more balanced environment.
The study, led by researchers at AB-BIOTICS (a Kaneka company), followed 46 healthy premenopausal women who took one capsule daily for up to 18 days. Results showed that:
- L. gasseri KABP® 064 was detected in 55.9% of participants in the probiotic group versus 8.3% in the placebo group (p = 0.008).
- The strain appeared as early as day 3, with a peak at day 6, demonstrating oral-to-vaginal detection within the study window.
These findings mark a major step forward for oral probiotic strategies in women’s intimate health, a field where most interventions have traditionally required local (vaginal) administration.
Positive transition toward Lactobacillus-dominated profiles
Although all participants were healthy, several had baseline vaginotypes considered unstable and potentially predisposed to dysbiosis. By day 15, the probiotic group demonstrated:
- A reduction in non-Lactobacillus genera
- A shift toward Lactobacillus-dominated vaginotypes
These results suggest that L. gasseri KABP® 064 not only survives the oral-gut-vaginal route but also contributes to maintaining a balanced vaginal ecosystem.
A well-characterized, resilient probiotic
Before human testing, a selection of 45 vaginal lactobacilli isolates from the AB-BIOTICS–Kaneka collection was screened in vitro. L. gasseri KABP® 064 stood out for its tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal and vaginal conditions, strong capacity to adhere to vaginal epithelial cells, and broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against urogenital microorganisms, supporting its potential to promote vaginal health via oral administration.
A promising solution for women’s intimate health
These findings position L. gasseri KABP® 064 as a promising probiotic strain for women’s intimate health—demonstrating oral detection in the vaginal tract and supporting a transition toward more stable, Lactobacillus-dominated profiles in healthy women.
Gyntima® Balance is part of AB-BIOTICS probiotic line, available internationally. To explore more about our science-driven probiotic solutions for women’s health, visit our website.
