Aloe vera supplement specialist Desert Harvest has partnered with Helaina, a biotech company that has developed a precision-fermented, human-identical lactoferrin, to create a dietary supplement formulated for menopause support, iron absorption, and bladder health.

Desert Harvest has been specializing in aloe vera products designed to address women’s urinary tract issues, and last year, received FDA approval to conduct a study evaluating its Super-Strength Aloe Vera ingredient for the treatment of interstitial cystitis, which is characterized as a chronic inflammation and irritation of the bladder wall.

Helaina’s effera human-identical lactoferrin ingredient has been shown in clinical studies to be more bioavailable than bovine sources of the iron-binding protein, potentially offering enhanced benefits related to iron metabolism, gut health, and immune support.

Lactoferrin is emerging as a key candidate for menopause support; iron deficiency is prevalent in menopause, and rather than overloading on the mineral, lactoferrin helps to improve the body’s efficiency at metabolizing the mineral. The protein also supports bone turnover through interaction with estrogen pathways; supports mitochondrial function and oxygen transport for more energy; and modulates hormones to support the estrogen-linked processes that get disrupted during (peri)menopause.

Desert Harvest’s Aloe Vera was included in the formula both for the well-known benefits of bladder comfort and urinary frequency relief, as well as the fact that the ingredient can protect lactoferrin, which is delicate and can be broken down in digestion before reaching the bloodstream.

A New Combo of Bioactives

Heather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest, discussed the emerging research on lactoferrin, and what differentiates the companies’ finished formula.

First, bovine lactoferrin, though similar to human lactoferrin, “is not structurally identical,” she told NW. “That means it doesn’t always bind to receptors with complete accuracy and can be harder for some people to digest, particularly those sensitive to dairy proteins. Several studies have shown bovine lactoferrin can trigger antibody responses and may be less efficient in iron regulation.”

By contrast, the precision-fermented effera is indistinguishable from the lactoferrin made by the human body; it has no antibody response, digests into the same peptide profile as native human lactoferrin, and is absorbed more efficiently.

While bovine lactoferrin has shown positive impacts on iron status and immune support, data are limited and complicated by tolerability issues, Florio noted. A comparison study found that while effera caused no immune reaction, bovine lactoferrin induced significant anti-lactoferrin antibodies. Digestion studies have confirmed that effera breaks down into the same peptides as human lactoferrin, and early data suggest unique benefits for estrogen-responsive pathways, iron regulation, and support for beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, showing distinct benefits not seen in bovine-sourced lactoferrin.

“We are also preparing a prospective clinical study specifically in peri- and post-menopausal women to measure outcomes like iron status, fatigue, vaginal comfort, and immune-related changes,” Florio said.

Synergies

Desert Harvest’s Super Strength Aloe Vera (SSAV) “has been clinically shown to increase the absorption of delicate bioactives by up to 25% and to soothe mucosal tissue,” said Florio. By pairing effera with SSAV, the ingredient can overcome challenges related to breakdown in the gut, a challenge which standard bovine lactoferrin products often don’t account for, she added.

Making Waves in the Menopause Market

Even though the natural products market has paid more attention to menopause in the recent years, “the market has often reduced menopause to a handful of symptoms like hot flashes or mood swings, while ignoring deeper biological changes: iron imbalance, bone loss, immune shifts, and bladder and vaginal microbiome disruptions. Women deserve solutions that acknowledge this complexity,” Florio said.

Declines in estrogen interplay with each of these processes, leading to women feeling fatigued, more prone to infections, and less resilient overall.

“Lactoferrin sits at the center of these systems,” Florio said. “It regulates iron so that energy is stable without fueling inflammation. It supports Lactobacillus populations critical for vaginal and urinary tract health. It stimulates bone-building cells while calming bone-resorbing cells. And it modulates immune activity to prevent both deficiency and overreaction.”

Florio noted that Desert Harvest’s 32-year history is rooted in serving overlooked health issues like interstitial cystitis, bladder pain, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction. She hopes, with Helaina, to set the bar for what menopause support will look like as next-gen products like precision-fermented ingredients take root in the marketplace.

“Scaling human-identical proteins is a technical and economic challenge. Precision fermentation requires highly controlled conditions, specialized equipment, and rigorous safety validation. Helaina has invested years into refining this process … The next hurdles for the category are cost efficiency and broader consumer access. As demand for human-identical proteins grows, we expect economies of scale, improved fermentation strains, and downstream processing innovations to make these ingredients more affordable, just as we’ve seen in other biotech-driven nutrition categories.”