Women’s wellness startup Desert Harvest has launched a new supplement featuring Helaina’s precision-fermented human lactoferrin to manage menopause.
US supplement brand Desert Harvest is combining its aloe vera expertise with a highly functional recombinant breast milk protein to support women navigating perimenopause and menopause.
The company’s Super Strength Aloe Vera Capsules are powered by Effera, a precision-fermented lactoferrin ingredient created by New York-based Helaina. The protein is free from animal byproducts, hormones and dairy, and is structurally identical to the version produced naturally in the human body.
By blending aloe vera with lactoferrin, Desert Harvest is aiming to boost women’s hormone, immune, and vaginal health. “Women deserve science-backed solutions that reflect the complexity of their bodies,” said its CEO, Heather Florio.
“With Effera, we are introducing a human-specific immune protein that works in harmony with our patented aloe. This is not just a new formula. It is a new standard for menopause support,” she added.
How human lactoferrin can support women in menopause
One of the most common effects of menopause is hot flashes, which are part of the vasomotor symptoms experienced by 80% of people at this life stage. Studies have shown that hot flashes can increase the risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, and cardiovascular diseases, disrupt sleep, and harm overall well-being.
Hot flashes are linked to declining oestrogen and iron imbalance, both of which lead to fatigue, mood swings, vaginal dryness, bone changes, and immune stress. For women already managing bladder health or bladder pain syndrome, all this can be especially overwhelming.
Lactoferrin, though, can restore balance by supporting oestrogen pathways, enhancing iron absorption, boosting energy, and protecting bone and immune health.
The whey protein is also found in cow’s milk, but is available in significantly larger concentrations in breast milk. Human lactoferrin is safer, gentler, and more effectively absorbed, too, according to Desert Harvest.
However, its supplies are limited, since purified lactoferrin is hard to obtain, leading startups like Helaina to turn to microbes to produce recombinant versions instead. Its tech involves fermenting a yeast strain called Komagataella phaffii in bioreactors, in a process similar to beer brewing. The yeast is fed a specific set of nutrients to produce the protein, which is filtered out from the fermentation broth at the end.
Effera boosts iron homeostasis and metabolism, and promotes a balanced immune response and beneficial microbiome. It can be used in functional foods, beverages, and supplements, across categories like women’s health, active nutrition, healthy ageing, and infant formula.
Several other companies are working on recombinant bovine or human versions of the protein, including All G, Eden Brew, PFx Biotech, Daisy Lab, De Novo Foodlabs and Eclipse Ingredients.
Effera and aloe vera combine to boost women’s wellness
Desert Harvest’s new capsules pair 300mg of Effera with a small amount of aloe vera to improve digestion and gentleness. They act on oestrogen receptors to ease hot flashes, vaginal dryness and hormonal fluctuations, while stimulating osteoblast activity for bone building and reducing inflammation to counteract the decline of oestrogen.
In addition, the supplements offer superior iron absorption and regulation to lower the fatigue commonly experienced during hormonal transition and decrease the risk of anaemia. Plus, they promote a lactobacillus-friendly microbiome to boost urinary tract health and overall bladder wellness.
Effera’s efficacy has been proven by a number of preclinical and clinical trials. A 2024 human safety study, for example, displayed no antibody production against Effera, even at high daily doses, confirming that the body recognises it as its own, not as a foreign protein. This is in contrast to the significant antibody response in those who took bovine lactoferrin.
Furthermore, the protein breaks down into the same beneficial peptides as naturally occurring human lactoferrin, offering targeted support for immunity, gut health, and recovery. Plus, pepsin digestion and cross-reactivity assessments have confirmed that the ingredient has a low allergy risk.
Helaina, which has raised $83M to date, is already cleared to sell Effera in the US, and each of its production runs now yields over 10 million efficacious servings. The ingredient is now part of eight consumer products targeting wellness and recovery, including Levelle Nutrition’s cycle-syncing protein powders. The latter is also working on a protein powder targeting menopause and post-menopause.
Women’s wellness is a $1T market, and more and more companies are tapping into it with planet-friendly foods, beverages and supplements. Fellow precision fermentation firm TurtleTree, for example, launched a recombinant bovine lactoferrin supplement with prebiotics to support iron regulation, improve energy levels, and enhance gut health for women in the US.
And beanless coffee startup Minus Coffee introduced an Instant Oat Milk Vanilla Latte targeting women’s wellness and cortisol balance, featuring half as much caffeine, a dose of L-theanine, and 6g of pea protein.
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