The UREX™ probiotic blend may support urogenital health

Content

• Bacterial balance supports the vaginal environment
• Bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus are dominant in the healthy vaginal microbiome
• Lactobacilli also dominate the urinary tract microbiome
• Infections can occur when the bacteria in the urogenital area are out of balance
• How do urinary tract infections occur?
• Results from clinical studies suggest that UREX™ may support the urogenital microbiome
• UREXTM may support vaginal health
• UREXTM may help women who experience recurring UTIs
• The UREXTM probiotic blend may have an important role in supporting urogenital health

Bacterial imbalances in the vaginal and urinary tracts can be associated with the development of bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections and urinary tract infections. These conditions are very common and can challenge well-being. In clinical trials, participants who consumed the UREX^TM probiotic blend (a specific blend of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, GR-1^® and Lactobacillus reuteri, RC-14^®, hereafter referred to by use of their trademarks GR-1^®, RC-14^® and UREX^TM) experienced improvement of symptoms and a reduction in the incidence of urogenital infections.^{1, 2, 3, 4} 

Bacterial balance supports the vaginal environment 

The innate immune system of the female genital tract includes the vaginal microbiota and different cells and proteins that all work to protect the female from pathogens.¹³
The human vagina and the indigenous bacterial communities residing in it are an example of a balanced, mutualistic relationship. In this relationship, the host provides benefits to the microbial communities in the form of the nutrients needed to support bacterial growth. In return, the indigenous bacterial communities play a protective role by limiting colonization of the host by potentially pathogenic organisms, including those associated with bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections and urinary tract infections.¹⁴

Bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus are dominant in the healthy vaginal microbiome

In the majority of women, species of Lactobacillus are dominant in the vagina¹⁴ and are thought to play a major role in protecting the vaginal environment from non-indigenous and potentially harmful microorganisms. This is primarily achieved through four mechanisms:^{15, 16}

1. Microbial competition for nutrients and adherence to the vaginal epithelium
2. Reduction of the vaginal pH by the production of organic acids, especially lactic acid
3. Production of antimicrobial substances, such as bacteriocins and hydrogen peroxide, suppressing the growth of several microorganisms
4. Modulation of the local immune system 

Lactobacilli also dominate the urinary tract microbiome 

The urinary tract microbiome is mostly composed of bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus, and, to a lesser degree, Gardnerella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Corynebacteria. As in the vaginal microbiome, there are microbes with characteristics that are thought to promote a healthy microbiome. For example, some Lactobacillus species that colonize the vagina excrete lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, inhibiting the growth of uropathogenic E. coli, the most common bacteria causing urinary tract infections.¹⁷

Infections can occur when the bacteria in the urogenital area are out of balance

 

Dysbiosis challenges the urogenital environment

Urinary tract and vaginal infections are common conditions which can occur when the bacteria in the urogenital environment are out of balance (i.e. dysbiosis). The most common infection is bacterial vaginosis. The infection is characterized by a shift in the microbial composition from being dominated by lactobacilli to including and increasing the presence of other bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium spp., and Prevotella spp.¹⁸

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is an infection associated with Candida spp. Usually, Candida live in parts of the body such as the vagina without any detrimental effects, but under certain conditions, Candida spp. can become an opportunistic fungal pathogen, with a tendency to overgrow. Candida albicans is responsible for 80–92% of vulvovaginal candidiasis cases.¹⁸

How do urinary tract infections occur?

Urinary tract infections (UTI) often occur due to the presence or dominance of uropathogenic microbes such as E.coli bacteria.¹⁷ A UTI typically starts with periurethral contamination by a uropathogen residing in the gut, followed by colonization of the urethra and subsequent migration of the pathogen to the bladder.^{10, 19}

Results from clinical studies suggest that UREX^™ may support the urogenital microbiome

The Chr. Hansen UREX^™ blend is a combination of the GR-1^® and RC-14^® probiotic strains. The effect of the two strains on the urogenital tract has been extensively researched in human clinical trials. The GR-1^® strain was isolated from the distal urethra of a healthy woman, and the RC-14^® strain was isolated from the vagina of a healthy woman. Early research associated local application of the two probiotic strains to the vaginal tract with an improvement in the bacterial environment of that area.^{20, 21} Numerous trials have subsequently investigated the effect of orally consuming the probiotic blend on urogenital health. In these studies, the strains were associated with a positive impact on the vaginal and urinary tract microenvironments, suggesting that the strains pass though the digestive tract, to the vaginal and urinary tracts where they may exert a benefit.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 22}

UREX^TM may support vaginal health

In several studies, daily intake of the UREX^TM probiotic blend has been associated with improvement of the vaginal microbiota. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, women with bacterial vaginosis were randomized to receive placebo or 2 billion CFU/day of UREX^TM. After 6 weeks, significantly more women in the UREX^TM group demonstrated a restored, balanced vaginal microbiota than women in the placebo group.¹¹

A study of post-menopausal women with an ‘intermediate vaginal microbiota’ (Nugent classification) randomized the women to receive a placebo or 1 billion CFU/day of the UREX^TM probiotic blend. After 4 weeks, the women who received the UREX^TM blend had an improved vaginal microbiota that was within the normal, healthy Nugent range, whereas the women in the placebo group did not have significantly improved vaginal microbiota.¹ 

In two randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trials, combining UREX^TM at 2 billion CFU/day with antibiotic treatment was associated with greater improvement in bacterial vaginosis and normalization of Nugent score than for antibiotics combined with placebo.^{3, 12} Read more about probiotics and antibiotics.

The effect of UREX^TM supplementation in combination with an antifungal agent to alleviate vulvovaginal candidiasis has been investigated in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. In the study, women received either an antifungal agent plus UREX^TM or the same antifungal agent plus placebo. After four weeks, it was observed that the women who took UREX^TM had significantly less vaginal discharge and lower presence of yeast than the women given placebo.⁴ This suggests UREX^TM may have a beneficial adjunctive effect on candidiasis.

UREX^TM may help women who experience recurring UTIs

Women with a history of recurrent UTIs were randomized to supplement with UREX^TM or low dose antibiotic prophylaxis for one year. Results showed that the number of UTIs experienced by the women was significantly reduced in both groups and there was no significant difference in the number of infections between the groups receiving either antibiotics or UREX^TM.² The results of the study suggest that UREX^TM may be beneficial for women with recurring UTIs.

The UREX^TM probiotic blend may have an important role in supporting urogenital health

The UREX^TM blend is a specific combination of the GR-1^® and RC-14^® probiotic strains and has been associated with fewer symptoms of vaginal and urinary tract infections. Specifically, clinical studies suggest that UREX^TM may promote vaginal and urinary tract health (when used alone and in combination with antibiotic treatment), and has been associated with improved outcomes of antifungal treatment for yeast infections. The UREX^TM blend has also been associated with fewer recurrent urinary tract infections.

Read more about our probiotic strains here.

CFU: Colony Forming Unit

 

GR-1^®, RC-14^® and UREX^TM 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