Bovine Colostrum: An Immune-Support Powerhouse

First milk colostrum is a nutritional tour-de-force.  It contains nutrients required for metabolic activation as well as conferring immune system support to the untrained immune system of the newborn.  The relative abundance of bovine colostrum¹ has made it a popular source of nourishment in many countries around the world, especially helping to cut down on digestive infections.  Bovine colostrum is documented to have many immune support compounds², including sialylated oligosaccharides³, substances known to act as viral decoys (a virus binds to it thinking it is a human cell to infect and is instead rendered inert).  An array of new science supports the use of bovine colostrum as an immune support nutrient for any person of any age.

Traditional uses⁴ for bovine colostrum focus on gastrointestinal disorders and respiratory tract infections.  Infants not breastfed⁵ have a greater incidence of severe diarrhea and respiratory diseases than those who are breastfed.  The therapeutic efficacy of oral bovine colostrum for various infections⁶ is well known by health professionals around the globe. 

It is known that bovine colostrum contains compounds that directly kill bacteria⁷ as well as compounds that support immune system signaling⁸ to rally the front line troops against infection.  One of the major discoveries about bovine colostrum is its ability to eliminate bacterial toxins⁹ (lipopolysaccharides) which may otherwise cause toxemia.  Antibiotics have no such ability and often aggravate the level of toxemia. 

Bovine colostrum has been found to prevent damage to the intestinal barrier¹⁰, thus preventing bacteria from entering the body (bacterial translocation).  Another study shows that bovine colostrum lowers inflammation¹¹ in cells that line the digestive tract by modulating the core inflammatory gene signal known as NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .

A study with endurance athletes¹², whom are under significant immune stress, showed that bovine colostrum promoted normal cytokine patterns in their immune cells – including the appropriate release of TNFa Cytokine involved with systemic inflammation and regulation of immune cells. It is able to induce cell death, and inhibits tumorigenesis and viral replication. When dysfunctional it is associated with a number of disease processes., which is vitally important to fighting a viral infection.  Another study showed that colostrum acts to boost interferon production¹³, also needed for mounting a higher-powered adaptive immune response.  Yet another study showed bovine colostrum’s general support of higher-powered adaptive immunity¹⁴ leading researchers to conclude “Bovine colostrum could also represent an inexpensive therapeutic tool in prevention and treatment of several human microbial infections, including influenza.”

It is interesting to note that in addition to its immune support properties bovine colostrum also demonstrates metabolic enhancement.  A study with 16 diabetic patients¹⁵ showed that bovine colostrum helped reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides. 

Bovine colostrum has demonstrated a wide range of natural immune support properties for both the innate and adaptive immune system.  At this time there are no published studies on bovine colostrum and the H1N1 swine flu.  It is safe to say that colostrum is the primary method by which immunity is passed to the offspring, making it instrumental to the survival of the human race.