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New Studies Continue to Reveal the Health Benefits of Colostrum
Monday, March 17, 2008 by: Barbara L. Minton from Natural news
Colostrum is the thin yellowish fluid produced during the first few milkings of
a mammal after she has given birth. It is the carrier of the immunities that are
transferred from mother to infant, and one of the reasons breast feeding is so
important to the health of children. Colostrum contains an abundance of
nutrients, including growth factors, lipidic and glucidic factors,
oligosaccharides, antimicrobials, cytokines and nucleoside. It is rich in
immunoglobulins which are certain types of protein involved in promoting the
immune system and fighting germs.
Bovine colostrum is identical in molecular structure to the colostrum of humans.
Many human health benefits have been attributed to bovine colostrum including:
increased energy levels, lower risks of upper respiratory illnesses, reduced
risk of intestinal damage from anti-inflammatory drugs, increased ability of the
body to burn fat and increase muscle, acceleration of injury healing, and
increased vitality and stamina. Bovine colostrum is also believed to have
significant anti-aging properties and is seen to promote longevity. Three recent
studies have supported the beneficial effects of bovine colostrum.
Results of
Recent Studies of Bovine Colostrum
The January 8, 2002 edition of
Bioscience, Biotechnology,
Biochemistry
reports that although many colostrum-based nutritional supplements have been
developed as growth promoters, few studies have investigated their functional
effects. To accomplish this, a bovine colostrums fraction, Growth Protein-Colostrum
(GP-C), was administered to juvenile rats as a dietary supplement to determine
its effects on growth and development.
Results indicate that GP-C enhanced the growth and mineralization of the femur
as evidenced by increased serum osteocalcin and bone mineral density with the
conclusion that bovine colostrum contains components capable of promoting bone
formation and inhibiting bone re-absorption, supporting its function in growth
promotion. Based on the findings, researchers hypothesized that a colostrum-based
dietary supplement enhances bone growth and development in humans.
The October, 2007 edition of
New Microbiology
reports an investigation of the immunomodulatory effects of bovine colostrum on
human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors. Researchers
focused on the production of cytokines involved in the successful immune
response toward intracellular pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. Bovine
colostrums induced a dose dependent production or stimulation of the cytokines.
PBMC proliferation was substantially unaffected by the bovine colostrum.
Researchers concluded that the promoting activity of bovine colostrum could
contribute to the protective effect of this colostrum on the offspring. Based on
these findings, researchers hypothesized that bovine colostrum could represent
an inexpensive therapeutic tool in prevention and treatment of several human
microbial infections, including influenza.
The September, 2007 edition of
Dairy Science
reports a survey of bovine colostrums composition and management completed with
sample and data collection from 55 dairy farms in Pennsylvania. Colostrum
samples were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, total solids, ash, Ig,
lactoferrin, water and fat soluble vitamins, and minerals.
Mean percentages of fat, protein, and lactose in colostrums were 6.7, 14.9, and
2.5 respectively. Concentrations of IGG1, IgG2, IgA, IgM, and lactoferrin were
35.0, 6.0, 1.7 4.3 and 0.8 mg/ml, respectively. Mean concentrations of
fat-soluble vitamins, including retinol, tocopherol, and beta-carotene, were
4.9, 2.9, and 0.7 microg/g, respectively. Mean concentrations of water soluble
vitamins were 0.34, 0.90, 4.55, 0.60, 0.15, 0.21, and 0.04 microg/ml for niacin,
thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine,
respectively. Mean concentrations (mg/kg) of selected minerals in colostrum
were: Ca 4,716; P 4,452; Mg 733; Na 1,058; K 2,845; Zn 38; Fe 5.3; Cu 0.3; S
2,595; and Mn 0.1. The findings of this study revealed that the mean
concentrations of most nutrients found in colostrums have increased over values
previously reported.
Results of
Bovine Colostrum Studies on Athletic Performance
The Journal
of Sports Medicine,
September, 2006, reports that bovine colostrums helped male distance cyclists
retain more energy following a bout of intensive training. These cyclists who
used bovine colostrums performed at a higher level with fewer signs of fatigue
during tests taken after their five days of intensive training.
The European
Journal of Nutrition,
August, 2003, reports an investigation of whether concentrated bovine colostrum
affected the incidence or duration of self-reported symptoms of upper
respiratory tract infections in adult males. Based on self-reports in a double
blind, placebo controlled study, preliminary evidence was found that
concentrated bovine colostrum protein may enhance resistance to the development
of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection.
The Journal
of Sports Science,
July, 2003 reports a study examining the effects of bovine colostrum on peak
vertical jump power, peak cycle power, alactic anaerobic work capacity,
resistance exercise one-repetition maxima, and plasma insulin-like growth factor
(IGF-1) concentrations. This randomized, double-blind, placebo, controlled,
parallel design study concluded that bovine colostrum supplementation during
training significantly increased peak anaerobic power, but had no effect on
alactic anaerobic work capacity.
Bovine Colostrums and Distal
Colitis
The
Ailmentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
November, 2002, reports a study designed to examine the efficacy of colostrum
enemas in the treatment of distal colitis during a randomized, double-blind,
controlled protocol. Fourteen patients with a mean age of 45 and mild to
moderately severe distal colitis, were given colostrum enema or placebo for 4
weeks. Both groups also received mesalazine initially or as an increased dosage.
After the 4 weeks, the colostrum group showed a mean reduction in symptoms of
-2.9, while the placebo group showed a mean response of +0.5. Researchers
concluded that bovine colostrums enema shows potential as a novel therapy for
left-sided colitis with additional benefits over using mesalazine alone.
Bovine
Colostrums and Drug-Induced Intestinal Permeability
The June, 2001 edition of
Clinical Science
reports that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause
gastrointestinal injury. Bovine colostrum is a cheap, readily available source
of growth factors, which reduces gastrointestinal injury in rats and mice.
Researchers hypothesized that colostrum could reduce the rise in gut
permeability caused by NSAIDs in volunteers and patients taking NSAIDs for
clinical reasons. Two studies were performed, the first on the healthy
volunteers, and the second on the NSAIDs patients. In the first group, no
increased gut permeability was seen when colostrum was co-administered with
NSAID indomethacin. Indomethacin alone caused a 3-fold increase in gut
permeability. In the second group, permeability was not influenced by
co-administration of test solutions. Researchers concluded that bovine colostrum
may provide a novel approach to the prevention of NSAID induced gastrointestinal
damage in humans.
Other Research Results
Other studies have shown that supplementation with bovine colostrum in
combination with exercise training for 8 weeks may increase bone-free lean body
mass in active men and women.
Candida colonization was reduced with administration of bovine colostrum
supplementation in bone marrow transplant recipients.
Treatment of refactory diarrhea with bovine colostrum resulted in a complete or
partial remission of the diarrhea in HIV positive patients with chronic
diarrhea.
Bovine Colostrum Side Effects
Colostrum is food and should be thought of as such. There have been no
significant side effects from supplementation with bovine colostrum reported in
the literature. Although colostrum contains lactose, the amount is small. It
depends on the degree of lactose intolerance and the amount of colostrum
ingested whether symptoms will appear in the lactose intolerant.
Buying and
Supplementing With Bovine Colostrum
You can get raw colostrum from your local dairy farmer. It needs to be
refrigerated and consumed within a reasonably short time. Raw colostrum differs
from processed colostrum because its immune factors come from just one cow.
Processed colostrum comes from a pool of hundreds or thousands of cows and
provides a broad spectrum of immune factors.
Choose colostrum from pasture-fed cows. They have a higher range of immunities.
Be sure your colostrum comes from animals that are pesticide, antibiotic and
rBST free, and is processed with very low heat. The compression used to create
tablets will cause the colostrum to be exposed to excessive heat, so buy
colostrum only in powdered form or in capsules.
You will want colostrum to reach your small intestine intact, without damage
from saliva and stomach acids. So take it on an empty stomach with a good amount
of water. Colostrum should be collected during the first 24 hours after birth,
while it has its peak concentrations of immune and growth factors as well as
digestive inhibitors.
Start with a large dose and continue until you feel you have had enough. Then
reduce the dose to a maintenance level. Colostrum is food, so consume it until
you are satisfied you have had enough.
If you are vegetarian, you may be interested to know that the Rishis (
And if you are feeling guilty consuming colostrum and image a poor calf going
without, you can rest easy. The calf always gets the first few hours of
colostrum. The herd owners want to ensure that their calves grow strong and
thrive.