UREX™ for urogenital health support

The UREX^TM blend (hereafter referred to as the trademark UREX^TM) is a combination of two probiotic bacterial strains. Some studies suggest that the combination may help oppose urinary tract and vaginal infections by supporting a healthy urinary and vaginal bacterial environment.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

Combination probiotic

The UREX^TM blend is a combination of two probiotic bacterial strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, GR-1^® and Lactobacillus reuteri, RC-14^® - hereafter referred to as the trademarks GR-1^® and RC-14^®). The strains have been used worldwide since 2004 as an ingredient in female dietary supplements. 

Studied in depth

Since 2001, the GR-1^® and RC-14^® strains have been described together in more than 130 scientific publications (including high quality studies such as randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trials, reviews and studies conducted in the laboratory with animals and cells). More than 25 of the publications are from human clinical trials.

The effect of both strains has been investigated for periods of up to 12 months in populations that ranged from female teenagers^{2, 6, 7} to post-menopausal women^{3, 11} including pregnant women⁹ and women with HIV¹² with no known adverse events. Consumption of the two bacterial strains has been associated with urinary and vaginal health benefits.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

Safety

The GR-1^® and RC-14^® strains have been notified to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as New Dietary Ingredients, which have been accepted for filing by the agency.¹⁵ At the species-level, these strains are found on the ‘Qualified Presumption of Safety’ list published and reviewed by EFSA.¹⁶

GR-1^®, RC-14^® and UREX^™ are trademarks of Chr. Hansen A/S.

The article is provided for informational purposes regarding probiotics and is not meant to suggest that any substance referenced in the article is intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease.

Reference list

1. Martinez RC, et al. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2009;48(3):269-74. (PubMed)
2. Anukam K, et al. Augmentation of antimicrobial metronidazole therapy of bacterial vaginosis with oral probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14: randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Microbes Infect. 2006;8(6):1450-4. (PubMed)
3. Petricevic L, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral lactobacilli to improve the vaginal flora of postmenopausal women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2008;141(1):54-7. (PubMed)
4. Reid G, et al. Oral use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 significantly alters vaginal flora: randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 64 healthy women. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2003;35(2):131-4. (PubMed)
5. Macklaim JM, et al. Changes in vaginal microbiota following antimicrobial and probiotic therapy. Microb Ecol Health Dis. 2015;26:27799.(PubMed)
6. Martinez RC, et al. Improved cure of bacterial vaginosis with single dose of tinidazole (2 g), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Can J Microbiol. 2009;55(2):133-8. (PubMed)
7. Vujic G, et al. Efficacy of orally applied probiotic capsules for bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013;168(1):75-9. (PubMed)
8. Beerepoot MA, et al. Lactobacilli vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections: a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial in postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(9):704-12. (PubMed)
9. Ho M, et al. Oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 to reduce Group B Streptococcus colonization in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2016;55(4):515-8. (PubMed)
10. Anukam KC, et al. Clinical study comparing probiotic Lactobacillus GR-1 and RC-14 with metronidazole vaginal gel to treat symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Microbes Infect. 2006;8(12-13):2772-6. (PubMed)
11. Bisanz JE, et al. A Systems Biology Approach Investigating the Effect of Probiotics on the Vaginal Microbiome and Host Responses in a Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Post-Menopausal Women. PLoS One. 2014;9(8):e104511. (PubMed)
12. Hummelen R, et al. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 to prevent or cure bacterial vaginosis among women with HIV. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2010;111(3):245-8. (PubMed)
13. Cianci A, et al. [Efficacy of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GR-1 and of Lactobacillus Reuteri RC-14 in the treatment and prevention of vaginoses and bacterial vaginitis relapses]. Minerva Ginecol. 2008;60(5):369-76. (PubMed)
14. Reid G, et al. Probiotic Lactobacillus dose required to restore and maintain a normal vaginal flora. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2001;32(1):37-41. (PubMed)
15. GR-1^® and RC-14^® were filed under NDIN 488 by the US FDA on March 3, 2008.
16. EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards, et al. Update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 7: suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2017. EFSA Journal. 2018;16(1):e05131.