The big winners of the NIS Golden Acai Award 2025 were announced in a unique celebration of innovation, technology and transformation in the market for ingredients, food, beverages, supplements and functional and healthy packaging!
Functional/Healthy Ingredient Category
Howaru® Feminine Health by IFF Health Sciences
HOWARU® Feminine Health: IFF's probiotic innovation for women's health
Find out why this functional ingredient was awarded at NIS 2025
The market recognized and the NIS celebrated:
HOWARU® Feminine Health, launched by IFF Health Sciences, was the big winner of the NIS Açaí de Ouro 2025 Award in the Functional/Healthy Ingredient category.
But what makes this ingredient so relevant? Innovation focused on women's health
HOWARU® Feminine Health is a probiotic solution developed especially for the dietary supplement industry in Brazil, with an innovative and highly technological approach aimed at vaginal health care.
Its formulation combines:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14™
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001®
- Bovine lactoferrin — with an unprecedented claim recognized by ANVISA
This synergistic composition can contribute to vaginal health, meeting an important demand in the female market.
Why does this matter?
Vaginal infections are among the main health challenges faced by women worldwide. Bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis are the most common conditions—and are directly linked to an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota.
A healthy vagina is predominantly colonized by different species of Lactobacillus. A reduced presence of these microorganisms is associated with a higher risk of infection and imbalance.
The lactobacilli present in HOWARU® Feminine Health perform essential functions:
- Maintaining ideal vaginal pH (between 3.5 and 4.5)
- Colonization of the vagina to prevent the installation of pathogens
- Competition for nutrients with unwanted microorganisms
- Production of antimicrobial substances that support a healthy population of lactobacilli
Lactoferrin, in turn, is a multifunctional glycoprotein naturally present in milk and other mammalian biological fluids. It has iron-binding and antioxidant properties and contributes to a favorable environment for the growth of lactobacilli, enhancing their effects when administered concomitantly.
Scientific evidence
Studies have shown that HOWARU® Feminine Health survives the passage of the gastrointestinal tract and is capable of colonizing the vaginal tract, promoting consistent benefits for female intimate health.
Market application
HOWARU® Feminine Health is available in Brazil for use in dietary supplement formulations aimed at vaginal health.
