An idea whose time has come

Today, the microbiome is one of the hottest topics in health. But at Thorne, we were believers in supporting the microbiome before supporting the microbiome was cool.

The concept of maintaining healthy gut and vaginal flora by supplementing fatty acids is nothing new.* Thorne introduced Undecylenic Acid for this indication 35 years ago. Since then, Undecylenic Acid has been one of Thorne’s best-selling nutritional supplements.

 And Thorne customers have known all this time what many in the medical world are only now discovering: that the gut flora plays a hugely important role in overall health, and that undecylenic acid effectively supports the gut and vaginal flora.*

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of gut flora in maintaining healthy vaginal flora. That inspired us to formulate our Women’s Daily Probiotic, which we launched earlier this year – and it pairs beautifully with Undecylenic Acid. Designed to support the unique daily needs of women, our new probiotic reduces unwanted bacteria growth in the urinary tract and balances unwanted yeast growth.* 

Why optimal gastrointestinal function matters

Optimal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is vital to nutrient absorption, nutrient synthesis, the production of short-chain fatty acids for colon health, the elimination of waste, and proper immune function.

An unhealthy diet, insufficient digestive enzymes, oral contraceptive use, and taking various prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause imbalances in the gut flora. That’s why supplementing with organic fatty acids can be especially valuable.*

The science behind Undecylenic Acid

Medical science has understood for centuries that fatty acids benefit the gastrointestinal tract. And more than 50 years ago, studies emerged demonstrating the effectiveness of certain organic fatty acids in supporting a healthy gut flora.*

When considering fatty acids for this purpose, it appears that the length of the fatty acid’s carbon chain dictates the fatty acid’s effectiveness; i.e., the longer the carbon chain, the greater its mechanism of action.

This likely explains why undecylenic acid (an 11-carbon fatty acid) appears to provide more benefit for GI microbial balance* than shorter-chain fatty acids – for example, the eight-carbon fatty acid, caprylic acid.

Undecylenic acid can inhibit the conversion of yeast to its hyphal form, making it much less deleterious.* Likewise, fatty acids such as undecylenic acid apparently disrupt the pH of yeast cells, which slows their growth.*

A go-to formula for 35 years

Time-tested and practitioner-approved, Thorne’s Undecyclic Acid is the answer when support for an optimal balance of microbial and vaginal flora is needed.* Undecyclic Acid contains the naturally occurring undecylenic acid (10-undecenoic acid), delivered in a base of extra-virgin olive oil. And guys, it’s not just for women. You need a healthy gut microbiome too.