BACKGROUND
Colostrum is the first collection of a thick creamy liquid, without blood or infection, produced by the mammary gland of a parturient mother shortly after birth, usually within the first 6 hours. Colostrum is very important part of breast milk and lays down the immune system and confers growth factors and other protective factors for the young ones in mammals. This is the source of passive immunity achieved by the mother and is transferred to the baby. This is also the major source of secretory IgA and gives protection against gastrointestinal infections.
COLOSTRUM'S POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS
Colostrum is known to have benefits such as passive immunization, benefits immunodeficient patients. A study found that colostrum samples from mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections
contained higher concentrations of lactoferrin compared with samples
from mothers from the control group. The highest concentrations of lactoferrin
were found in the colostrum samples of mothers with active SARS-CoV-2
infection during delivery when compared with the post-infection and
control samples. Lactoferrin is particularly abundant in human breast milk during the early stages of lactation. [17]
Further, Yalçın Mert Yalçıntaş and colleagues argue that the bioactive components of colostrum bring forth various therapeutic effects against the challenges experienced by athletes, including diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, muscle injuries, intestinal disorders, etc. [16] The feasibility of obtaining surface immunoglobulin suitable for oral use, which may in future be administered to immunodeficient patients with gastrointestinal manifestations, from human colostrum and milk. [3] Human and bovine colostrum have many similarities barring that bovine colostrum can be obtained in large quantity, so bovine colostrum may be as beneficial as human colostrum on various disorders in human beings. [2]
HOW ITS INGREDIENTS POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO COLOLOSTRUM HEALTH BENEFITS
Colostrum has many active ingredients; these active ingredients may benefit people in different aspects. This section features the key potential health benefits of colostrum ingredients:
Lactoferrin exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitice, and antitumoral activities. It is protective to intestinal epithelium, promotes bone growth, and accelerates the recovery of immune system function in immunocompromised animals. Lactoferrin was used in the treatment of hepatitis C infection and the intestinal form of graft-versus-host disease. [5]
A proline-rich polypeptide demonstrated a variety of immunotropic functions, including the promotion of T-cell maturation and inhibition of autoimmune disorders. PRP, in the form of chewable tablets (Colostrinin) was recently found to improve or stabilize the health status of Alzheimer's disease patients. [5]
Casein and casein-derived peptides showed protective activities in enamel demineralization and as caries-preventing agents. The protein hydrolyzates were also protective in diabetic animals, reduced tumor growth, had antihypertensive activity and diminished colicky symptoms in infants.
Glycomacropeptide, a peptide derived from kappa-casein, exhibited various antibacterial and antithrombotic activities.
Alpha-lactalbumin (LA) demonstrated antiviral, antitumoral and anti-stress properties. LA-enriched diets were anxiolytic, lowered blood pressure in rats, prevented diarrhea, and led to a better weight gain in malnourished children. Because casein and LA have blood pressure lowering properties, intake of colostrum may probably benefit people at risk of high blood pressure. HAMLET, a complex of LA and oleic acid, was effective in patients with cutaneous papillomas. Lysozyme found application in infant formulas, the treatment of periodentitis, and the prevention of tooth decay. Milk enriched in lysozyme was used in feeding premature infants suffering from concomitant diseases. Interesting, antibacterial properties were exhibited by lactoperoxidase. Both lysozyme and lactoperoxidase required cooperative action with LF in combating bacteria. [5]
Antioxdants are cound in colostrum. In the study, colostral concentrations of antioxidant vitamins E, C, and A were 21.34 +/- 8.47, 148.92 +/- 43.64, 0.79 +/- 0.42 micromol/l, respectively. The antioxidant minerals copper, zinc, and iron contents were 19.17 +/- 11.73, 63.69 +/- 12.82, 11.44 +/- 1.46 micromol/l, respectively. Maternal characteristics did not have any influence on the colostral micronutrients. [7] On the other hand, a study has shown a correlation between antioxidant (pro-)vitamin intakes during pregnancy (third trimester) and ORAC values of colostrum and transitional milk, but not with ORAC values of mature milk. Thus, women dietary habits during pregnancy and lactation is important for the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk. [10]
Fatty Acids In addition to the antioxidant levels, researchers also found that geographic differences in maternal dietary composition could impact the fatty acid composition of human colostrum. For example, the contents of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and total n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (0.6, 0.4 and 1.4 wt.%) were higher in Australian than in European samples. While, Colostrum of Australian women contained a low polyunsaturated/saturated and n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ratios (0.28 and 1.58) and a low contents of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids (7.8 and 0.4 wt.%). The contents of essential fatty acids, saturates and polyunsaturates were similar in the southern European countries Spain, Slovenia and France. [11]
Because colostrum has a variety of active ingredients, and each active ingredient carries a particular health benefits. It is expected that intake of colostrum may provide different types of health benefits.
COLOSTRUM HEALTH BENEFITS - RESEARCH FINDINGS
REDUCING THE RISKS OF DIARRHEA
The specific IgG from colostral antibodies of immunized bovine may provide benefit for those suffered from multibacteria-induced diarrhea. Researchers generated bovine colostral antibodies of cows immunized with a multivalent vaccine consisting of whole cells of 17 strains of pathogenic diarrhea bacteria, and they purified the specific IgG with high activities against these pathogens.
The specific IgG was found to have a strong activity of inhibiting in vitro growth and colonization in pathogens by agglutinating with bacteria and destroying cell walls. Normal IgG purified from non-immunized bovine colostrum is incapable of eliciting the same consequences as specific IgG. Specific IgG prevents enteroinvasive Escherichia coli/Salmonella typhi-induced diarrhea and may exert an effective protection by enhancing splenic NK cell activity, elevating IL-2 level and inhibiting excessive release of TNF-alpha in mice. [1]
Iimmunoglobulin (SIg) A prepared from colostrum pool greatly inhibit the invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli. Researchers obtained IgA preparations from colostrum and milk pools by salt precipitation. They evaluated the final products in terms of yield and purity, as well as antibody activity to bacterial antigens and toxins and inhibitory activity of bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells. They used the colostrum pool with the best yield and purity as a source of IgA. They found that their IgA preparations preserved the antibody reactivity against various microbial antigens, well comparable with the reactivity exhibited by the original milk and colostrum pools. SIgA preparations were able to inhibit greatly the adhesion of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to Hep-2 cells and the invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli. [3]
STIMULATING APPETITE
Colostrum may have benefits of stimulating appetite. Ghrelin stimulates appetite by acting on the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. The presence pf Ghrelin in blood stream under fasting conditions may transmit a hunger signal to the CNS or induces appetite stimulating effect.
.
Ghrelin and its mRNA have been found in numerous human tissues including breast. A research team compared the ghrelin levels in colostrum, mature and transitional milk and plasma in lactating women with plasma samples from non-lactating women. The researchers collected colostrum, transitional and mature milk samples just before suckling. They found that the ghrelin levels in colostrum, transitional and mature milk were elavated concomitantly with increasing plasma ghrelin after delivery. However, the origin of milk ghrelin is not known, but it probably comes from the plasma. [4]
REDUCTING THE RISKS OF CERTAIN INFECTIONS
It is believed that colostrum benefits people at risk of certain infections. Colostrum stimulates directly to i-IEL to polarize Th1 type, which may protect from infectious diseases and allergic diseases mediated by Th2 type responses. Researchers examined effects of oral administration of bovine colostrum on local immunity in intestine in adult mice. They supplied bovine colostrum or control milk orally to C57BL/6 mice for 1, 3 or 6 months. They then examined the intestinal microflora, fecal IgA, and lymphocyte population of gut-associated lymphoid tissues and their abilities of cytokine production. Th1 stimulus for Th2-skewed immune response during infancy is important for reduction of incidence of allergic diseases. The researchers found that the T cells in i-IEL were polarized to Th1 type after oral administration of bovine colostrum, though the cell populations of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) were not remarkably changed. And, oral administration of bovine colostrum does not change the Intestinal microflora and IgA levels in feces. [6]
Maternal vaccination with polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine boosts the capacity of colostrum to inhibit adherence of pneumococci to pharyngeal epithelial cells. In breast-feeding populations, maternal vaccination might prevent pneumococcal disease in young infants.
Researchers examined Colostrum obtained from Gambian mothers who had been vaccinated with either Pneumovax II or Mengivax A C (n=8 per group) during pregnancy for inhibition of adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 6B and 14 to pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro. They found that pneumococcal adherence was significantly reduced in the presence of breast milk, independent of the concentration of secretory IgA antibodies. [8]
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficient patients predominantly suffer from respiratory and gastrointestinal infections since secretory IgA has important functions to protect mucosal surfaces. A study of 31 patients with viral upper respiratory tract infection shows oral bovine colostrum supplementation leads to a lower infection severity score than the placebo group. [13]
REDUCING THE RISKS OF COLITIS
Colostrum may even benefit people suffered from colitis. Prophylactic administration of colostrum improved clinical symptoms of colorectal inflammation in a well-established mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium -induced colitis. However, higher colostrum doses did not affect disease activity. [14] Th1 stimulus for Th2-skewed immune response during infancy is important for reduction of incidence of allergic diseases. The researchers found that the T cells in i-IEL were polarized to Th1 type after oral administration of bovine colostrum, though the cell populations of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) were not remarkably changed. And, oral administration of bovine colostrum does not change the Intestinal microflora and IgA levels in feces. [6]
REDUCING THE RISKS OF ATHLETC PERFORMANCE
Colostrum may benefit people in sports. Bovine colostrum has been shown to improve athletic performance, reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, and reduce intestinal damage and permeability caused by the administration of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Research scientists found that Supplementation with Bovine colostrum and whey protein during running training increases intestinal permeability in a study of 31 healthy subjects [9]
On the other hand, heavy exercise causes gut symptoms and, in extreme cases, "heat stroke" partially due to increased intestinal permeability of luminal toxins. Twelve volunteers completed a protocol (14 days colostrum/placebo) prior to standardized exercise. Gut permeability utilized 5 h urinary lactulose-to-rhamnose ratios. In vitro studies (T84, HT29, NCM460 human colon cell lines) examined colostrum effects on temperature-induced apoptosis, heat shock protein 70 expression and epithelial electrical resistance. In both study arms, exercise increased blood lactate, heart rate, core temperature by similar amounts. Intestinal permeability in the placebo arm increased 2.5-fold following exercise, whereas colostrum truncated rise by 80% following exercise. In vitro apoptosis increased by 47-65% in response to increasing temperature by 2°C. This effect was truncated by 60% if colostrum was present. Thus, colostrum supplementation may have benefits in enhancing athletic performance and preventing heat stroke.
PROBIOTICS
In addition to providing nutritional benefits to infants, human colostrum is also source of probiotics to infant during breastfeeding. Researchers analyzed 70 samples of milked human colostrum and they found several classical groups of microorganisms: mesophylic (68.6%); thermoduric (38.6%); psychrotrophic (8.6%); proteolytic (15.7%); proteolytic-psychrotrophic (1,4%); lipolytic (4.3%); molds and yeasts (11.4%); Staphylococcus aureus (44.3%); total coliforms (7.2%); and lactic acid bacteria (37.2%), thus characterizing a diversified microbiota [13]
REDUCING THE RISKS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Colostrum may benefit people at risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Colostrinin, a proline-rich polypeptide complex (PRP) isolated from bovine colostrum, with immunoregulatory and procognitive properties, has shown positive benefits in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a study, researchers treated 33 patients with Colostrinin tablets (containing 100 mg of PRP complex) every other day for three weeks, followed by a 2-week hiatus to avoid the development of hyporeactivity. This mode of application, '3+2 weeks,' was used consistently throughout the 28 months trial.
Researchers found Colostrinin induced slight but statistically significant improvement or stabilization of the health status of the patients in the trial. The side effects were emarkably mild, including anxiety, logorrhea, and insomnia, and subsided spontaneously within a short period of time (3-4 days). [12]
COLOSTRUM SIDE EFFECTS
Colostrum appears to be safe, without serious side effects. But, long term use may induce mild side effects such as anxiety, logorrhea, and insomnia, and subsided spontaneously within a short period of time (3-4 days). [12]
REFERENCE
[1] Xu LB et al, Bovine immune colostrum against 17 strains of diarrhea bacteria and in vitro and in vivo effects of its specific IgG.Vaccine. 2005 Nov 15.
[2] Thapa BR.Health factors in colostrum.Indian J Pediatr. 2005 Jul;72(7): 579-81.
[3] Carbonare CB et al, Secretory immunoglobulin A obtained from pooled human colostrum and milk for oral passive immunization. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2005 Nov;16(7):574-81
[4] Aydin S, Aydin S, Ozkan Y, Kumru S.. Ghrelin is present in human colostrum, transitional and mature milk.Peptides. 2005 Sep 24; .
[5] Zimecki M, Artym J.Therapeutic properties of proteins and peptides from colostrum and milkPostepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2005 Jun 30;59:309-23.
[6] Yoshioka Y et al, Oral administration of bovine colostrum stimulates intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes to polarize Th1- type in mice.Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Mar;5(3):581-90. [7] Ahmed L, et al, Antioxidant micronutrient profile (vitamin E, C, A, copper, zinc, iron) of colostrum: association with maternal characteristics.J Trop Pediatr. 2004 Dec;50(6):357-8.
[8] Deubzer HE et al, Colostrum obtained from women vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine during pregnancy inhibits epithelial adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae.J Infect Dis. 2004 Nov 15;190(10):1758-61. Epub 2004 Oct 7.
[9] Buckley JD et al, Bovine colostrum and whey protein supplementation during running training increase intestinal permeability.Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S81.
[10] Alberti-Fidanza A et al, Total antioxidant capacity of colostrum, and transitional and mature human milk.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2002 Apr;11(4):275-9.
[11] Fidler N et al, The fatty acid composition of human colostrum.Eur J Nutr. 2000 Feb;39(1):31-7. [12] Leszek J et al, Colostrinin proline- rich polypeptide complex from ovine colostrum--a long-term study of its efficacy in Alzheimer's disease.Med Sci Monit. 2002 Oct;8(10):PI93-6.
[13a] Novak FR et al, Human colostrum: a natural source of probiotics?J Pediatr (Rio J). 2001 Jul- Aug;77(4):265-70. [13b] Patıroğlu T, Kondolot M. THE EFFECT OF BOVINE COLOSTRUM ON VIRAL UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH IMMUNOGLOBULIN A DEFICIENCY. Clin Respir J. 2011 Jul 29.
[14] Bodammer P, Maletzki C, Waitz G, Emmrich J. Prophylactic application of bovine colostrum ameliorates murine colitis via induction of immunoregulatory cells. J Nutr. 2011 Jun;141(6):1056-61. Epub 2011 Apr 27.
[15] Marchbank T, Davison G, Oakes JR, Ghatei MA, Patterson M, Moyer MP, Playford RJ. The nutriceutical bovine colostrum truncates the increase in gut permeability caused by heavy exercise in athletes. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2011 Mar;300(3):G477-84.
[16] Yalçın Mert Yalçıntaş et al, Exploring the impact of colostrum supplementation on athletes: a comprehensive analysis of clinical trials and diverse properties, Front Immunol . 2024 May 10:15:1395437
[17] Paulina Gaweł et al, Colostrum Lactoferrin Following Active and Recovered SARS-CoV-2 Infections during Pregnancy, Biomedicines . 2024 May 17;12(5):1120.