Flowens™

The natural solution for prostate and bladder health

The only clinically substantiated cranberry ingredient supporting lower urinary tract and bladder health

Flowens™ is a 100% natural blend of whole cranberry ingredients with approved health claims in some countries. It is the only cranberry ingredient that has delivered clinically substantiated results for both Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) in men and Overactive Bladder (OAB) in women. It offers a cost-effective and clean-label solution. 
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Benefits

Men's lower urinary tract health
Bladder health

Consumers seek natural solutions for urinary symptoms

Urinary comfort is an important health issue for men and women alike – especially as they age. In the US, more than one in four men over the age of 40 suffers from prostate-related Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency and weak stream.¹ Among those in their 60s or older, that proportion increases to as much as 50%.² Meanwhile, in the US, as many as 43% of women and 27% of men suffer from Overactive Bladder Symptoms (OAB), with 30 million Americans over the age of 40 affected.³ LUTS and OAB can have a negative effect on quality of life, and are linked with embarrassment, self-isolation, anxiety, depression and increased healthcare usage.⁴ A growing number of consumers are looking for an effective, natural approach to managing urinary health. Clinical research shows that Flowens™, our all-natural cranberry ingredient, can meet this need, and improve quality of life.⁵ ⁶

Clinically proven

to improve prostate-related LUTS symptoms in men and OAB symptoms in women⁶ including frequency, urgency and nocturia⁵ ⁶

Approved health claims

claims in Canada, Colombia⁷ ⁸ and the USA

All natural, clean-label blend

of whole cranberry ingredients

Low cost-in-use

for the effective dose

Patented formula

and method of use

Want to know more about OatWell™'s unique characteristics?

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The science behind

Flowens™

Clinical results for urinary symptoms in both women and men

Flowens™ has delivered clinically substantiated results in studies on both LUTS in men and OAB in women.⁹ ¹⁰ The gold-standard scientific research carried out on Flowens™ has led to approved health claims from regulatory scientific authorities.

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Flowens™

responsible sourcing

Cranberry grown and harvested sustainably

Our Flowens™ cranberries are cultivated and harvested with a strong commitment to sustainability, adhering to our Sourcing4Good initiative. This programme ensures responsible sourcing, enhances producer livelihoods, and minimises environmental impact. Each batch of cranberries’ journey is fully traceable, providing complete transparency.

We partner with dedicated cranberry growers who share our dedication to sustainable practices. By collaborating closely, we support your sustainability goals and continually improve our environmental and agricultural methods across the supply chain.

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Traditional use

Native to North America, cranberries have been used for centuries to support bladder and kidney health⁹

Why formulate

with

Flowens™

?

Flowens™ is suitable for a wide range of nutraceutical applications including capsules, tablets, sachets, and gummies.
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FAQs

1. What dose of Flowens™ is recommended?
2. How fast does Flowens™ work?

We would love to hear from you!

If you have a specific product in mind or are curious about how we can assist in your innovation journey, please don't hesitate to get in touch
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References

Flowens™

The natural adaptogen backed by science

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The science behind Flowens™

The cranberry ingredient with clinically proven results for both LUTS and OAB

Flowens™ is a 100% natural solution for LUTS in men and OAB in women. It has approved health claims in Canada, Colombia and the USA.

15
product specific health claims³⁻⁵
3
fewer urgent episodes per day¹⁰

Proven results for urinary comfort in both women and men

Flowens™ is the only cranberry ingredient that is clinically proven to work for both men and women. It has delivered results in high-quality published studies for both LUTS in men⁵ and OAB in women⁶.

The gold-standard scientific research carried out on Flowens™ sets it apart from alternative cranberry solutions because the effects of alternative cranberry solutions are not substantiated. In contrast the efficacy of Flowens™ has been recognized with multiple health claims.⁷ ⁸

Shown to reduce prostate related Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms severity in men

In a randomised, double-blind, clinical study in 2015, 122 men consumed 250 mg of Flowens™, 500 mg of Flowens™ or a placebo for six months. Researchers used the IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) to evaluate the severity of their lower urinary tract symptoms. Among the 250 mg group, a statistically significant and clinically relevant 3.1 drop in IPSS was recorded. And for men taking 500 mg of Flowens™, the reduction in symptom severity was even greater (4.1 points). Additionally Flowens™ also induced a significant increase in both average and maximum urinary flow rate.⁵

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Significantly reducing micturition and urgency episodes in women

In a randomised, double-blind study, 60 women with Overactive Bladder received 500 mg of Flowens™ or a placebo daily for six months. Flowens™ was shown to significantly reduce the number of urination episodes per day, with subjects taking it reporting two fewer urination breaks (medically referred to as micturition) per day than those in the placebo group (-17%). It also reduced the number of urgent episodes, the most bothersome symptom, by almost three per day (-48%).¹⁰

Furthermore, Flowens™ significantly improved patient perception of bladder condition (PBBC) scores, with a 41% improvement vs baseline. ¹⁰ The PPBC is an important measure of one’s bladder condition at the moment ranging from ‘My bladder condition does not cause me any problems at all', to 'My bladder condition causes me many severe problems.'

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High-quality science; health claims in three countries

Based on the clinical evidence for its effect on urinary tract symptoms, Flowens™ has been awarded multiple health claims:

Canada

2015: Health Canada, granted Flowens™ a National Product Number authorizing it to make six claims relating to LUTS in men. In 2022 this was updated to allow seven claims relating to OAB in women.³

Colombia

2015: Flowens™ has been granted the claim: “Helps in the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of lower urinary tract (LUTS) in men.”⁴

USA

500 mg of Flowens™ can carry a US FDA-qualified health claim relating to reducing the risk of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in healthy women.⁵

References

Flowens™ Responsible Sourcing

Working together to transform the value chain

At Givaudan, we are committed to sourcing all materials and services in a way that protects both people and the environment by 2030. We collaborate with our cranberry suppliers to ensure trust and compliance across our entire supply chain. We’ve been sourcing cranberry for more than two decades. Along the way, we’ve built strong relationships with partners across the United States (Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts states) and Canada (Quebec). Together we’re committed to continually improving our sustainability practices.

‘’We ensure best in class cranberry quality and service thanks to our long term partnerships with our growers.’’

Dan Souza,
Global product manager branded ingredients

Our Commitment

Supporting the hydrological needs of the vines

The environment where our cranberry grows provides a diverse habitat for numerous animal and plant species. And for every acre of our cranberry production, an average of six acres of support land remains undeveloped to support the hydrological needs of the vines.

Reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers

We are working closely with our growing partners to provide the best cranberry varieties on the market. Our partners are reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers and increasing the yield per acre in order to limit the expansion of cultivated areas.

Managing water use

Our cranberries grow in dry fields called bogs. In winter – to protect the vines from the elements – our growing partners flood the bogs, and a layer of ice forms. Then in spring, new buds emerge, and the growing season begins in earnest. Throughout the growing season, the farmers recycle water as much as possible and re-use it from bog to bog – or even from farm to farm – before returning it to nature.

Working in partnership with our growers

For decades, our cranberry suppliers have organised growers' associations and co-operatives, which are involved in all governance issues, including sustainability. We have also engaged into long-term agreements with selected partners to offer them a secure and fair-priced outlet for their crop volumes for the years to come. These long-term partnerships enable us to work with our growers to continually improve quality and agricultural practices in order to reach best-in-class sustainable ways of working. By working together, we ensure all our suppliers share our commitment to responsible sourcing. So you benefit not only from high-quality products, but the knowledge that we are driving tangible impacts across our value chains.

Why Givaudan?
Botanical expertise
Explore our trusted, natural ingredients–sustainably sourced with rigorous quality control.
Science & technology
Innovate with our science-backed ingredients with proven health, wellbeing and nutritional benefits.
Enjoyable food experiences
Create unique products with the right taste, colour, texture and functional ingredients.
The latest consumer insights
Transform consumer needs into outstanding products.
Discover more
References

Enhanced nutrition in any application

OatWell™ offers multiple functional benefits for food formulations, making it a versatile ingredient and allowing for fibre fortification in many applications, including bread, crackers, pastas, sweet baked goods and extruded snacks.

OatWell™ behaves as a natural stabiliser/emulsifier, making it an ideal ingredient for clean label strategies, while its high viscosity can deliver thickening properties. In applications such as bakery or processed meats, it exhibits water binding capacities, which hold potential for fat reduction. For classic applications, such as crackers and cereals, it can add a satisfying crisp.
11.4g
of OatWell™ BG28 delivers: 3g of oat beta glucan, 5.6g of dietary fibre and only 32Kcal

Designed for your formulation needs

The Oatwell™ range offers varying levels of total dietary fibre, oat beta-glucan and protein content, as well as different particle sizes. Its unique characteristics make it easy to incorporate in application while meeting taste and nutritional targets for a truly enjoyable consumer experience.

Baked goods

  • Easy to incorporate
  • Water binding capacity and moisture retention help extend shelf life
  • Can be mixed in binder syrup to provide thickness
  • High viscosity delivers thickening properties and texture
  • Enables some fat reduction in cakes
  • Improves overall nutritional profile

Extruded cereals / Snacks

  • Easy to incorporate
  • Excellent format to deliver high content of oat beta-glucan and fibre
  • Good expansion properties
  • Lighter, aerated and crispy texture
  • No colour impact
  • Improves overall nutritional profile

Pasta

  • Easy to incorporate
  • Water binding
  • Comparable texture to regular pasta
  • Improves overall nutritional profile

RTM Powders

  • Free flowing and easy to blend
  • Good dispersion
  • Can deliver added mouthfeel
  • Texture may add to perception of satiety
  • Improves overall nutritional profile

A little product for a lot of nutrition

Our OatWell™ Bran BG28 has over 50% total fibre and 28% beta-glucan. This beta-glucan is a powerful fibre and can help achieve different health claims around the globe. For example in the US, using the heart health claim requires delivering 3g of beta-glucan/day. 

Unique properties to deliver unmatched benefits from oats

For over 30 years, OatWell™ has been researched to develop innovative oat products. Much of our work has focused on proving the health benefits of oat beta-glucans in order to deliver premium value to our customers.

A unique nutritional profile

Generally considered healthier and more nutritious than the other main cereals, oats offer a full range of benefits in a single ingredient. OatWell™ can be provided in three different concentrations of beta-glucans, all delivering both soluble and insoluble fibres, along with an average of 21% - 23% protein.

A proprietary production process

OatWell™ uses a unique production process to fractionate the oat kernel into three product lines: beta-glucan products, oat flours, and oat oils. Our production process preserves the native structure of oat beta-glucans, retaining their high molecular weight during fractionation into oat brans with a high amount of beta-glucans.

The importance of high molecular weight

The molecular weight of oat beta-glucan is essential to delivering health benefits. OatWell™'s beta-glucan has a very high molecular weight (2000-2500 kDa as naturally found in oats), which contributes to its unique viscosity and thickening properties. This viscosity has an important impact on physiological functions, such as reducing blood cholesterol levels, moderating blood glucose and insulin levels, and potentially benefiting satiety.

Benefits of OatWell’s high molecular weight:

  • Ability to effectively reduce cholesterol and maintain healthy blood sugar levels compared to low molecular weight alternatives
  • High viscosity – thickening properties
  • Excellent water-binding properties
  • Potential to replace fat in product formulations

Unlocking the potential of dietary fibres and oat beta-glucan

Dietary fibre is an essential part of a healthy diet, promoting digestive health and providing a range of benefits that can help maintain overall wellbeing. Found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, dietary fibres are carbohydrates that cannot be digested by the body.

Nutrition Facts Label: FDA definition of “dietary fibre”

"non-digestible soluble and insoluble carbohydrates (with 3 or more monomeric units), and lignin that are intrinsic and intact in plants; isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates (with 3 or more monomeric units) determined by FDA to have physiological effects that are beneficial to human health."⁸

Soluble Fibers

Soluble fibres are dispersible in water. Fibres with high molecular weight, such as OatWell™, transform into a gel-like substance as they move through the digestive tract, where they are fermented by beneficial bacteria.⁹ This type of fibre is known to reduce cholesterol levels, particularly LDL (bad cholesterol)¹⁰, and manage blood glucose levels⁷ making it particularly beneficial for those concerned with heart health and healthy blood glucose. When soluble fibre, such as that found in Oatwell™, is digested by beneficial bacteria in the large intestine, it acts as a prebiotic.¹¹ As a result of digestion, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are released in the colon and serve as a nutrition source for the colon’s own cells.

Oat beta-glucans

One exceptional soluble fibre is beta-glucan, a natural, indigestible polysaccharide found in oats, barley, yeast, bacteria, algae, and mushrooms. Oats are particularly rich in beta-glucan, with concentrations ranging from 3-5% depending on the variety. Oat bran, produced by removing the starchy content of the grain, contains the highest concentration of beta-glucan, offering numerous health benefits for cardiovascular health⁵ ⁶, glycaemic response⁷ and the gut microbiome.⁴

Insoluble fibres

Insoluble fibres, on the other hand, do not dissolve in water as they pass through the digestive system. They help promote regular bowel movements, helping the stool pass more quickly through the intestines, which studies indicate is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.¹² By delivering both insoluble and soluble dietary fibres, including beta-glucans,¹³  OatWell™ helps meet consumer expectations for nutritious and delightful food experiences while promoting overall wellbeing. Embrace the power of these natural ingredients to create food experiences that truly resonate with today's health-conscious consumers.

Prebiotic support for the gut microbiome

Oat fibre contributes to improved gut health by increasing faecal bulk, but there’s more to the story. OatWell™ oat bran fibre has prebiotic effects, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate and propionate, which have been associated with anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering properties.²⁰

What is a prebiotic?

Prebiotics are substrates that are selectively utilised by host microorganisms that confer a health benefit. Simply put, they are food for beneficial microbes that live in the human gut. These microbes can produce short chain fatty acids, which are considered beneficial compounds. Most prebiotics are dietary fibres, but not all dietary fibres are prebiotics. Many prebiotic fibres are soluble and some are insoluble.¹¹

The prebiotic effects of oat bran fibre have been validated through years of research. In a review by Malkki and Virtanen, they cite: “in the large bowel, soluble dietary fibre increases the fermentation activity, especially production of butyric acid, enhances growth and colonisation of some probiotic bacterial strains, increases production of microbial mass and thereby aids the removal of nitrogen via faeces. It also increases wet weight of stools, thereby alleviating constipation”.²¹

Research conducted on oat beta-glucan demonstrates that it meets three important criteria, confirming its status as a prebiotic fibre:¹ ²

  • helps produce Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): acetate, propionate and butyrate³
  • increases lactic acid as well as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli³
  • increases faecal bulk and promotes proper gut function⁴
By nurturing the gut microbiome, OatWell™ is an ideal ally for creating healthy and delightful food experiences that optimize wellbeing from within.
Disclaimer
This web page is intended to provide business-to-business education and information. Its purpose is not intended to communicate to end consumers. Ingredient information is for educational purposes only; specific ingredients are not intended to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any disease states. The information provided may or may not be applicable to, or satisfy, all regulatory requirements for all global regions. Specific regulatory requirements must be evaluated to ensure compliance within the individual countries and regions.

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Health solutions for breakfast, Friday evening snacking, and snacking on the go!

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