NutraIngredients Europe 2025: Akay Bioactives’ FenuSmart Named “Ingredient of the Year”

Akay Bioactives has announced that its flagship botanical ingredient, FenuSmart, a patented full-spectrum fenugreek seed extract, has been honoured as the 2025 NutraIngredients Europe Ingredient of the Year in the botanicals category.

FenuSmart secured this recognition based on its scientific robustness and innovation. It was distinguished among botanical finalists such as ElderCraft European Black Elderberry Extract and Reducose.The NutraIngredients Awards select winners based on indicators like clinical evidence, market performance, innovation, and contribution to sustainability

Developed to cater to women across reproductive, pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal stages, FenuSmart delivers a precise blend of potent bioactives—standardized saponins and alkaloids including protodioscin and trigonelline—to support hormonal balance, mood regulation, and vasomotor symptom relief without relying on synthetic hormones. The extract’s patented mechanism augments natural hormone production: protodioscin acts as a DHEA precursor, while trigonelline aids estrogen and serotonin pathways

FenuSmart's acclaim is underpinned by at least five clinical studies, four randomized controlled trials, and two issued U.S. patents covering its composition and health benefits Clinical outcomes include:

• Reproductive-age women: Improved mood and libido in a 42-day, 250 mg twice-daily trial—with a 42% drop in sexual dysfunction and 40% reduction in irritability.

• Peri-menopausal women: Alleviation of hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings, with enhanced quality of life across four RCTs.

• Post-menopausal women: Relief from vasomotor symptoms, improved vaginal health, increased hemoglobin (+8.9%) and calcium levels (+2%), and reduced leg discomfort by over sevenfold

The award arrives during a period of explosive growth in women’s wellness. Worldwide, women’s health supplements were valued at USD 41.1 billion in 2023 and are expected to reach USD 66.5 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 5.6%. Modern female consumers increasingly seek tailored, transparent, evidence-led solutions for menstrual, fertility, and menopause needs

Akay Bioactives emphasizes a sustainable, vertically integrated supply chain to ensure full traceability from fenugreek cultivation to final extract. The brand’s recognition by NutraIngredients Europe underscores the growing importance of clinically substantiated, plant-based wellness built on natural innovation

NutraIngredients Awards, a benchmark in the nutraceutical industry, rewards scientific innovation and sustainable relevance. In 2025, winners included Lifenol for women’s healthy ageing and AB-LIFE for healthy ageing, reflecting a spectrum of functional health needs.

Reference:

1. Nutraceutical Business Review. “Akay Bioactives’ FenuSmart Named NutraIngredients Europe’s Ingredient of the Year.” June 4, 2025. https://nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/akay-bioactives-fenusmart-named-nutraingredients-europe-s-ingredient-of.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sakshi Thakar/MSM)