Colostrum

Colostrum: What is it?

• Colostrum is a milk that is secreted by mammals in the initial post-partum period that contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, growth factors, proteins, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, antibodies, nucleotides and nucleosides, cytokines, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

• Colostrum is produced during the first week following birth and provides significant protection for newborns with developing immune systems; it eventually transitions into mature milk.

How does it work in the body?

• Colostrum has a wide range of mechanisms in the body. These include boosting immunity by activating natural killer cells and stimulating IFN-gamma and IL-2 release [133], suppressing myeloperoxidase activity to reduce oxidative damage [134], protecting the gastrointestinal system through its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties [135], and raising IGF-1 levels allowing for better glucose utilization and storage [136].

What is it used for?

• Colostrum supplementation is frequently used for modulating immune defense, aiding in gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and leaky gut, stimulating exercise enhancement, and aiding in Alzheimer's disease and memory loss.

Evidence for and against:

• Diarrhea and respiratory infections: A study of 160 children showed that bovine colostrum significantly reduced the number of upper respiratory tract infections, diarrheal episodes, and number of hospital admissions.

• Another study with 605 children showed similar results. In a study of 74 people, there were fewer reports of respiratory tract infections reported when taking colostrum.

• Immune: In a study of 18 participants, colostrum was shown to enhance IgA antibodies and increase mucosal protection.

• Another study with 198 participants showed that consumption of colostrum had no effect on immunological parameters. In mice, colostrum was shown to enhance natural killer cell activity.

• In a study of 35 long-distance runners, colostrum supplementation was shown to increase IgA levels.

• A study found that colostrum supplementation was more effective than vaccination for preventing influenza in both healthy and high-risk cardiovascular subjects.

• Muscle enhancement: One study showed significantly increased lean body weight when taking colostrum supplementation compared to whey protein.

• Another study showed that both whey protein and colostrum equally increased lean body mass, total body mass, and strength.

• Alzheimer's and memory loss: Studies have shown that long-term colostrinin, which is a component of colostrum, may slow memory loss and cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Dosage:

• Doses varied from as low as 500 mg/day for leaky gut to as high as 60 g/day for upper respiratory tract infections.

Precautions/side effects:

• Colostrum is generally a safe supplement and tolerated well. Mild side effects include nausea, gas, skin rash, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Interactions:

• Colostrum may alter the effectiveness of NSAIDs due to its lactoferrin content which can bind NSAIDs

Key Web Sources

• McGrath BA, Fox PF, McSweeney PLH, et al. Composition and properties of bovine colostrum:

  a review. Dairy Sci Technol. 2016;96:133–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13594-015-0258-x.

• Ballard O, Morrow AL. Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr

  Clin N Am. 2013;60(1):49–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2012.10.002.

• Shing CM, Peake JM, Suzuki K, Jenkins DG, Coombes JS. Bovine colostrum modulates

  cytokine production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with lipopoly-

  saccharide and phytohemagglutinin. J Interf Cytokine Res. 2009;29(1):37–44. https://doi.

  org/10.1089/jir.2008.0015.

• Buescher ES, McIlheran SM. Antioxidant properties of human colostrum. Pediatr Res.

  1988;24(1):14–9. https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198807000-00005.

• Rathe M, Müller K, Sangild PT, Husby S. Clinical applications of bovine colostrum therapy:

  a systematic review. Nutr Rev. 2014;72(4):237–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12089. Epub

  2014 Feb 26.

• Guaragna MA, Albanesi M, Stefani S, Pasqualone A, Angelini A, Alfieri S, Barbaro SP. The

  effectiveness of oral goat colostrum in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mel-

  litus: our preliminary experience. Clin Ter. 2013;164(2):111–4. https://doi.org/10.7417/

  CT.2013.1527.

• Saad K, Abo-Elela MGM, El-Baseer KAA, Ahmed AE, Ahmad FA, Tawfeek MSK,

  El-Houfey AA, Aboul Khair MD, Abdel-Salam AM, Abo-Elgheit A, Qubaisy H, Ali AM,

  Abdel-Mawgoud E. Effects of bovine colostrum on recurrent respiratory tract infections

  and diarrhea in children. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(37):e4560. https://doi.org/10.1097/

  MD.0000000000004560.

• Patel K, Rana R. Pedimune in recurrent respiratory infection and diarrhoea—the Indian

  experience—the pride study. Indian J Pediatr. 2006;73(7):585–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/

  BF02759923.

• Brinkworth GD, Buckley JD. Concentrated bovine colostrum protein supplementation

  reduces the incidence of self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in adult

  males. Eur J Nutr. 2003;42(4):228–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-003-0410-x.

• He F, Tuomola E, Arvilommi H, Salminen S. Modulation of human humoral immune

  response through orally administered bovine colostrum. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol.

  2001;31(2):93–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2001.tb00504.x.

• Wolvers DA, van Herpen-Broekmans WM, Logman MH, van der Wielen RP, Albers R. Effect

  of a mixture of micronutrients, but not of bovine colostrum concentrate, on immune function

  parameters in healthy volunteers: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Nutr J. 2006;5:28.

  https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-5-28.

• Wong EB, Mallet JF, Duarte J, Matar C, Ritz BW. Bovine colostrum enhances natural killer

  cell activity and immune response in a mouse model of influenza infection and mediates

  intestinal immunity through toll-like receptors 2 and 4. Nutr Res. 2014;34(4):318–25. https://

  doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2014.02.007. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

• Crooks CV, Wall CR, Cross ML, Rutherfurd-Markwick KJ. The effect of bovine colos-

  trum supplementation on salivary IgA in distance runners. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.

  2006;16(1):47–64. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.16.1.47.

• Antonio J, Sanders MS, Van Gammeren D. The effects of bovine colostrum supplementa-

  tion on body composition and exercise performance in active men and women. Nutrition.

  2001;17(3):243–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0899-9007(00)00552-9.

• Leszek J, Inglot AD, Janusz M, Byczkiewicz F, Kiejna A, Georgiades J, Lisowski

  J. Colostrinin proline-rich polypeptide complex from ovine colostrum—a long-term study of

  its efficacy in Alzheimer’s disease. Med Sci Monit. 2002;8(10):PI93–6.

• Hałasa M, Maciejewska D, Baśkiewicz-Hałasa M, Machaliński B, Safranow K, Stachowska

  E. Oral supplementation with bovine colostrum decreases intestinal permeability and stool

  concentrations of zonulin in athletes. Nutrients. 2017;9(4):370. https://doi.org/10.3390/

  nu9040370.

• Mir R, Singh N, Vikram G, Kumar RP, Sinha M, Bhushan A, Kaur P, Srinivasan A, Sharma

  S, Singh TP. The structural basis for the prevention of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-

  induced gastrointestinal tract damage by the C-lobe of bovine colostrum lactoferrin. Biophys

  J. 2009;97(12):3178–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2009.09.030.