FenuSmart® Named NutraIngredients Europe’s “Ingredient of the Year”
By Admin
Akay Bioactives is thrilled to announce that FenuSmart has been recognized as the 2025 NutraIngredients Europe “Ingredient of the Year” for the botanicals category. Rooted in scientific merit and fueled by innovation, this prestigious honor highlights both the strength of our clinically backed, plant-based solutions, and the growing importance of personalized support for women’s health.
Award-Winning Science for Modern Women
FenuSmart is a patented and clinically substantiated fenugreek seed extract, designed to deliver potent bioactives in unique ratios tailored to support hormonal balance, improve mood, and alleviate vasomotor discomforts related to menopause. What makes FenuSmart stand out is its ability to provide multi-dimensional benefits across a woman’s various life stages—from reproductive years through menopause— without the use of synthetic hormones or pharmaceutical interventions.
Winning this award reinforces our belief that women deserve solutions that are both efficacious and naturally inspired, and we’re proud to lead this transformation in the botanical space.
Female-Specific Research Gaining Momentum
Historically, medical research has prioritized male subjects, often to the detriment of understanding and addressing women’s health. While the NIH implemented a policy in 1993 mandating the inclusion of women in clinical trials, significant disparities remain (1). One striking example: despite affecting 90% of women, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has been studied far less than erectile dysfunction, which impacts only 19% of men—yet receives five times more research attention (2). Encouragingly, this imbalance is beginning to shift. Increased investment in women’s health research is bringing long-overlooked conditions such as PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, and menopause into greater clinical and commercial focus, driving innovation in targeted health solutions.
A Booming Market with Evolving Needs
This win comes at a time when the women’s wellness market is surging. The global women’s health supplements market was valued at $41.1 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $66.5 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% (Global Market Insights) (3). This growth is driven by increased awareness, better access to health education, and more open conversations around topics like menstrual health, fertility, menopause, and metabolic wellness.
But it’s not just about growth, it’s about precision and personalization. Today’s female consumers are no longer satisfied with generic solutions. They’re actively seeking products that are targeted, transparent, and tailored to their unique physiology and life stage. This shift is supported by data: a 2024 Lumina Intelligence report found that 64% of female supplement users under 40 actively search for products customized to their needs, whether that’s PMS relief, stress support, or perimenopausal care (4).
FenuSmart®: Engineered for What Matters Most
FenuSmart is our response to this need for personalization. Standing out from other botanicals, it is clinically shown to:
- Promote hormonal balance in healthy menstruating women
- Boost mood and sexual desire for those in pre-menopause
- Ease vasomotor discomforts associated with perimenopause
- Support healthy calcium and hemoglobin levels for women after menopause
- Boost emotional, sexual, and mental well-being post-menopause
FenuSmart is supported by a solid body of clinical evidence, including five published studies—four of which are randomized controlled trials. These studies demonstrate its ability to support hormonal balance across a wide age range, from women in their early 30s to those transitioning through menopause. FenuSmart has been shown to help alleviate a range of symptoms, including somatic, psychological, and urogenital concerns—while maintaining hormone levels within the physiological norm. Additionally, research indicates benefits for sexual function, emotional well-being, and overall vitality.
Whether incorporated into trending formats like gummies and chews or tried-and-true delivery systems such as tablets and capsules, FenuSmart offers clean label appeal and versatile formulation potential.
A Win for Women. A Win for Plant-Based Innovation.
With life expectancy for women projected to rise from 79.7 years in 2017 to 85.6 years by 2060 (5), there is growing interest in proactive, long-term health management. This demographic shift presents a valuable opportunity for brands and retailers to engage with female consumers in more meaningful ways, offering solutions that support not only symptom relief but also sustained vitality through all stages of life.
As partners on this journey, Akay Bioactives is commitment to providing clinically backed innovations through a sustainable, vertically integrated value chain. FenuSmart is more than an ingredient, it’s part of a broader movement to empower women with wellness solutions rooted in nature and backed by science.
Ready to learn how FenuSmart can elevate your women’s health portfolio?
Get in touch with our team today!
References
- National Institutes of Health (US). NIH policy and guidelines on the inclusion of women and minorities as subjects in clinical research. Bethesda (MD): NIH; [cited 2025 May 28].
- The Week. UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain. London (UK): The Week; [cited 2025 May 28].
- Global Market Insights. Women’s health supplements market – global forecast 2024-2032. Selbyville (DE): Global Market Insights; [cited 2025 May 28].
- Insights and Data for the Women’s Health Market, Lumina Intelligence, April 2024; [cited 2025 May 28].
- Medina L, Sabo S, Vespa J. Living longer: historical and projected life expectancy in the United States, 1960 to 2060. Population Estimates and Projections. P25-1145. Washington (DC): U.S. Census Bureau; 2020 Feb; [cited 2025 May 28].
“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease“
