FAQ - Questions and Answers

What is contained in Femaltiker®?

The main ingredient of the product is barley malt extract, which contains easily assimilable polysaccharides. Breastfeeding mothers should consume one of the most important polysaccharides, beta-glucan, which is involved in metabolic processes related to breast milk production. In accordance with expert recommendations, the use of a product based on barley malt is a good nutritional practice that supports breast milk production (1).

Femaltiker® always contains the same controlled amount of barley malt, which comes from a renowned Swiss manufacturer.

The raw materials contained in the product are of pharmaceutical quality and are microbiologically tested. The barley malt contained in Femaltiker® is standardized for the content of beta-glucan. It should also be emphasized at this point that barley malt in commercially available beers has a very low content of beta-glucan, which is related to the long malting time *. The preferred proportion of malting barley is 4.5% (2). Too high a content of this polysaccharide is undesirable due to the formation of turbidity or residues in the beer (2)

Ingredients:

Femaltiker® contains Lactanell (barley malt extract (Hordeum vulgare), beta-glucan from barley, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis))

Femaltiker® contains grain (barley malt), which naturally contains gluten.

(1) Expert group on nutritional recommendations for women during breastfeeding. Standardy Medyczne Pediatria, 2013 Vol. 10; 265-279

(2) Czarnecki Z. et al. Changes in high molecular weight β-glucans and β-glucanase activity during brewing of malting barley. Acta Sci. Pol. Technologia alimentarna. 2004; 3 (2): 137-46.

* Malting involves soaking barley grains to stimulate germination and initiate enzymatic processes that break down free proteins and sugars, including beta-glucan.

Why was Femaltiker® developed?

A short story from the plight of a breastfeeding mother to the finished product. The development of Femaltiker® was inspired by a mother who was determined to breastfeed her baby. Immediately after the birth of her baby, however, she was confronted with the fact that her newborn child was not gaining enough weight. She was about to switch to artificial milk; not least due to a lack of sympathy and support from her closest family members.

To help her, the research and development department of the then company Holbex began looking for an ingredient that had a well-documented lactation-supporting effect. It turned out that beer based on barley malt is a widely recommended natural lactation booster. During this research, they came across a study by Prof. Berthold Koletzko (1). The author showed that there is clear evidence that beer can stimulate the secretion of prolactin, which has a positive effect on breastfeeding. The substance responsible for this effect is not alcohol, however, but barley polysaccharides, which contain beta-glucan.

Beta-glucan is contained in barley malt and influences the amount of the protein prolactin produced by the pituitary gland. The amount of beta-glucan in the diet of a nursing mother should be adjusted so that it can have its desired physiological effect. The ingredients of Femaltiker are standardized for the beta-glucan content in barley malt.

Stress can be a reason for breastfeeding problems. Therefore, the product is enriched with sweet lemon balm extract, which has a calming effect on the breastfeeding mother. The delicious caramel flavor completes the taste experience.

(1) Berthold Koletzko, Frauke Lehner. Beer and Breastfeeding. Ed. Berthold Koletzko et al. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2000

Who should take Femaltiker®?

Supporting breast milk production during breastfeeding

Femaltiker® is particularly recommended for women who have a delayed onset of breast milk production or problems maintaining breastfeeding. Since Femaltiker® contains barley malt, it supports breast milk production during the breastfeeding phase.

In addition, it contains lemon balm, which relieves stress symptoms that breastfeeding mothers may experience; especially those who have problems initiating or maintaining breastfeeding.

Femaltiker® supports mothers who want to breastfeed their baby relieves stress associated with initiating breastfeeding supports the woman's body during breastfeeding

Why is Femaltiker® exceptional?

EFFECTIVENESS - Femaltiker® was administered to 128 women diagnosed with breast milk deficiency as part of a clinical study. After two weeks of using the product, lactation was improved in 93% of the participants. A randomized blind study was completed, conducted in two large breastfeeding centers. It is important to note that the use of barley malt contained in Femaltiker® during breastfeeding was included in the lactation stimulation protocol. The beneficial influence of the beta-glucan contained in barley malt was also mentioned in a paper by the expert group on nutritional recommendations for women during breastfeeding. In the chapter "The use of a barley malt product as an example of good nutritional practice to support lactation", the authors refer to both the existing scientific basis and the safety of using malt as a product that stimulates lactation.

Barley malt-based composition as a galactagogue - a randomized, controlled trial in preterm mothers. Published: Ginekologia Polska 2021, vol. 92, no. 2, 118-125 Copyright © 2021 Via Medica ISSN 0017-0011

You can download the study here.

INNOVATIVE - The composition of Femaltiker® has been submitted to the Patent Office under number P.405419 and is therefore protected by law. In addition to the barley malt standardized for the content of beta-glucan, the product is also enriched with lemon balm extract. The latter has a relaxing effect and thus facilitates the discharge breast milk.

QUALITY - Unlike other widely used barley malt products, Femaltiker® is based on malt extract. This means that the amount of malt is concentrated and much higher compared to standard brewing malt. In addition, the malt extraction technology used for Femaltiker® is different from that used for, for example, brewing barley or making bread. Barley malt in commercially available beers has a very low beta-glucan content, which is directly related to the extended malting time.

Malting involves soaking barley grains to stimulate germination and initiate enzymatic processes that break down free proteins and sugars, including the valuable beta-glucan. The malt used in Femaltiker®, however, is only malted for a short time in order to retain as many ingredients as possible that stimulate lactation - such as beta-glucan.

The beta-glucan content is standardized, meaning that each production batch always contains the same amount of this polysaccharide. To ensure the highest quality and safety of the product, each production batch is tested for pathogenic bacteria, molds, fungi and heavy metals in accordance with current European regulations on food purity and safety.

How should Femaltiker® be used?

It is recommended to take 1-2 sachets of Femaltiker® per day with a meal. Due to its mechanism of action, it is recommended that Femaltiker® be consumed 30-60 minutes before the planned breastfeeding or pumping of breast milk. Dissolve the contents of one sachet in about 150 ml of cool or lukewarm milk and mix thoroughly. In case of allergy or intolerance to cow's milk, you can easily switch to other types of milk; for example, plant-based milk such as barley, soy, rice, oat or spelt milk (or just water). The product can also be used as an additive to natural or flavored yogurt.

Femaltiker® can be used from the 2nd day after birth. The recommended daily dose should not be exceeded.

Important instructions:

The product should be taken under medical supervision. The product should not be used as the sole source of nutrition. The product is intended for nursing mothers. The product is not intended for parenteral use .

Prolactin - why is it so important when breastfeeding?

The process of mammary gland development begins during pregnancy, when follicular epithelial cells begin to divide in response to the hormone progesterone, preparing for breast milk production. This stage is called lactogenesis I and lasts until the 1st or 2nd day after birth. Birth itself leads to a rapid reduction in the concentration of progesterone and estrogen, while the concentration of prolactin - a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland - increases. This leads to further changes in the function of breast secretory cells, which are prepared for the active production of healthy and nutritious breast milk; this stage is called lactogenesis II and is completely dependent on the hormone prolactin. Prolactin production and milk secretion by breast cells are closely linked by the so-called prolactin reflex. This connection is based on the reception of stimuli by the nipple from the baby's sucking. The pituitary gland reacts by releasing prolactin into the mother’s blood.

By binding to receptors present on the milk-producing cells, prolactin stimulates them and thus influences the production of casein and alpha-lactalbumin, which are the main milk proteins. The release of milk from the breast occurs by increasing the concentration of the "cuddle hormone". This so-called relaxation and happiness hormone triggers a contraction of cells located around the milk-producing cells. The milk thus enters the milk ducts, which in turn lead it to the nipples.

The "cuddle hormone reflex" is triggered either by stimulation of the nipples by a baby or a breast pump or simply by the sight of a baby or even just by hearing it cry.