When we were building Women’s Wellness, we kept coming back to one molecule. Every time we looked at the science on menopause - hot flashes, mood, bones, skin, heart health - the answer was S-equol. But we couldn’t find it in Europe. Not at the quality we wanted, not from a source we trusted. So, we went to Japan.
What’s in Women’s Wellness?
A chewable tablet with seven ingredients: Fermented Turmeric (500mg), Fermented Pomegranate Extract (150mg), S-Equol (10mg), plus Vitamins B6, B12, K2 and D3. It’s built on three ideas: fermented ingredients, plant compounds that support hormones, and the right vitamins at the right doses.
Part One: The Fermented Ingredients
Our Fermented Turmeric uses a special bacteria strain to break turmeric down through fermentation. This matters because normal turmeric is poorly absorbed by the body - fermenting it fixes that problem and produces helpful compounds, including one called butyrate. Two studies back it up: one showed changes in body fat and liver markers over 8 weeks; another showed it outperformed regular turmeric across several gut health measures over 12 weeks.
Our Fermented Pomegranate Extract works the same way. Pomegranate contains compounds that gut bacteria turn into something called urolithin A, which supports your cells’ energy centres (mitochondria) and muscle health. Fermenting it beforehand gives you a stronger, more reliable dose.
Part Two: S-Equol
Soy contains a compound called daidzein. On its own, it doesn’t do much - your gut bacteria have to convert it into S-equol before it works. The problem is that most people do not have the right bacteria for this. Only 30-50% of people with Asian heritage make S-equol naturally, and just 20-30% of Western people do. Everyone else eats soy and gets nothing from it. Most soy supplements ignore this - they sell the raw ingredient and hope your gut does the rest.
We skip the guesswork. We put the already-converted S-equol straight into the tablet.
S-equol isn’t oestrogen. Standard HRT uses estradiol, which affects breast and womb tissue - that’s where its risks come from. S-equol mainly targets a different, more selective pathway (called ERβ), found in your brain, bones, blood vessels and skin instead. This lets it support the areas affected by menopause without the same level of risk to sensitive tissue.
What the Studies Found
- Hot flashes: One study of 160 women found real reductions in hot flash frequency and muscle stiffness after 12 weeks. A second study of 161 women found a 58.7% drop in hot flashes, compared to 34.5% with a placebo.
- Mood: A study of 134 women found real improvements in mood, anxiety and fatigue.
- Bones: A year-long study of 93 women found a 23.94% reduction in a bone-loss marker, compared to almost no change with placebo. Bone density was preserved.
- Heart health: A study of 74 women found improved blood vessel flexibility, and a 45.53% drop in triglycerides among women who started with high levels. This study wasn’t placebo-controlled, so it’s less solid than the others - but it fits with what we’d expect.
- Skin: Studies found less wrinkling with regular use, and a 2025 study linked higher S-equol levels to better skin around the eyes.
Why We Sourced It From Japan
You can’t currently get natural S-equol at high quality in Europe - the rules around it are still unclear. Japan has been researching and producing it for years, mostly through work linked to a major pharmaceutical company. We source ours from a traditional Japanese fermented soybean food called natto, at the 10mg dose used in the studies above - we didn’t guess the amount, we matched what the research used.
Part Three: The Vitamins
- B6 (5mg) helps regulate hormones and supports normal mental function - especially useful during hormonal changes.
- B12 (500µg) is the active form, which absorbs better than cheaper versions. It supports mental function, reduces tiredness, and supports the nervous system.
- K2 (75µg) is the most effective form of K2 available. It helps calcium bind into your bones - working alongside S-equol, which reduces bone loss, to support bones from both directions.
- D3 (25µg) supports calcium absorption, bone strength and muscle function - especially important in the UK, where we don’t get much sun for large parts of the year.
How It All Works Together
The two fermented ingredients support your gut and reduce inflammation. S-equol works on hormone-related pathways to support hot flashes, bones, heart health, mood and skin. The vitamins round it out - two for your brain and mood, two for your bones. Nothing here is filler; each ingredient does a different job.
The Small Print
Women’s Wellness is a food supplement, not a medicine. It isn’t meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The vitamin claims are officially authorised under EU/UK law. Everything we’ve said about S-equol reflects published research and is for information only. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on blood thinners, or managing a hormone-related condition, speak to your doctor before taking it. It contains soy, so it’s not suitable if you have a soy allergy.
By Alastair Jessel, The Postbiotic Company. Adapted from our writings on Substack.
