Colostrum

Other Names: Bovine Colostrum, Bovine Immunoglobulin, Bovine Lacteal Compounds, Calostro, Colostrum Bovin, Colostrum Bovin Hyperimmune, Colostrum de Chèvre, Colostrum de Lait de Vache, Cow Milk Colostrum, Goat Colostrum, Hyperimmune Bovine Colostrum, Immunoglobuline Bovine, Lait Colostral, Protogala.
Colostrum is a milky fluid that comes from the breasts of humans, cows, and other mammals the first few days after giving birth, before true milk appears. It contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins (antibodies) that fight disease-causing agents such as bacteria and viruses. Antibody levels in colostrums can be 100 times higher than levels in regular cow’s milk.

People originally got interested in bovine colostrum because of the high antibody levels. They thought that the antibodies might prevent intestinal infections in people, but they seem to be wrong.

Some athletes use bovine colostrum to burn fat, build lean muscle, increase stamina and vitality, and improve athletic performance. Bovine colostrum is not on the banned drug list of the International Olympic Committee.

Bovine colostrum is also used for boosting the immune system, healing injuries, repairing nervous system damage, improving mood and sense of well being, slowing and reversing aging, and as an agent for killing bacteria and fungus.

Bovine colostrum is used in the rectum to treat inflammation of the colon (colitis).

Researchers have created a special type of bovine colostrum called “hyperimune bovine colostrum.” This special colostrum is produced by cows that have received vaccinations against specific disease-causing organisms. The vaccinations cause the cows to develop antibodies to fight those specific organisms. The antibodies pass into the colostrum. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum has been used in clinical trials for treating AIDS-related diarrhea, diarrhea associated with graft versus host disease following bone marrow transplant, and rotavirus diarrhea in children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted hyperimmune bovine colostrum “orphan drug status.” Under the Orphan Drug Law, drug makers who invest in the development of treatments for rare conditions enjoy special market advantages; for example, permission to sell the drug without competition for 7 years. If these special incentives were not in place, pharmaceutical companies might not develop drugs for rare conditions because the potential market is so small.

How does it work? Colostrum is collected from cows that have been vaccinated to produce antibodies that fight the bacteria that cause diarrheal disease. These antibodies appear in the colostrum that is collected as medicine. Though the hope is that these cow antibodies will help fight human disease, the cow antibodies do not seem to be very active in humans.

Special Precautions of Colostrum

• Bovine colostrum taken by mouth or given rectally as an enema seems to be safe for most people. While most people don't experience any side effects from bovine colostrum, there have been rare reports of problems in HIV-positive patients such as nausea, vomiting, abnormal liver function tests, and decreased red blood cells.
• There is some concern about the possibility of catching "mad cow disease" (bovine spongiform encephalitis, BSE) or other diseases from products that come from animals. "Mad cow disease" does not appear to be transmitted through milk products, but it is probably wise to avoid animal products from countries where "mad cow disease" has been found.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of bovine colostrum during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Allergy to cow’s milk: If you are allergic to cow’s milk or milk products, you may also be allergic to bovine colostrum. In that case, it is best to avoid it.

The benefits of Colostrum are

• Infectious diarrhea. Taking bovine colostrum seems to reduce infectious diarrhea in children and patients with a weakened immune system, including patients with HIV/AIDS and bone marrow transplant recipients. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum has FDA orphan drug status for AIDS-related diarrhea. Most clinical trials have used hyperimmune bovine colostrum.
• Athletic performance. Developing research suggests that bovine colostrum might increase athletic performance for many, but not all, athletic activities. Activities that seem to benefit are jumping and bicycle sprints, but not running on a treadmill.
• Inflammation of the colon (colitis). There is some evidence that a rectal enema using 10% bovine colostrum might be helpful for treating colitis.
• Stimulating the immune system.
• Healing injuries.
• Repairing nervous system damage.
• Burning fat.
• Building lean muscle.
• Increasing stamina and vitality.
• Elevating mood and sense of well-being.
• Slowing and reversing aging : Activates Human Growth hormone (HGH)
• Bacterial and fungal infections.
• Strengthens the body's immune system.