Lactoferrin Helps Bones, Periodontal Problems and Weight Loss

Lactoferrin is one of the most potent immune modulating compounds known.  It should be naturally produced in your saliva, and has been proven to be lacking in individuals who are overweight or who have insulin resistance.  The lack of lactoferrin in your saliva enables germ imbalances that promote the wear and tear of your jaw bone, leading to periodontal problems.  This leads to a triad of overlapping problems: general bone loss, dental problems, and difficulty losing weight.  Several new studies explain how bovine lactoferrin can help.

As I explained in yesterday’s article on oregano oil, people who are overweight and struggle with weight loss typically have too much toxic LPS coming from the germ gangs that line their digestive system.  When that LPS reenters the circulation one of the adverse things it does is travel to your bones wherein it provokes the inflammatory 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. within bone, in turn inducing bone loss.  One of the new studies documents the precise mechanism showing how bovine lactoferrin can help your bones in general, showing how it blocked the LPS activation of inflammation in various ways, including the suppression 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. and 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. .  The authors concluded, “Bovine lactoferrin could be a potent therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases associated with bone destruction, such as periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.”

The second study was an observational clinical trial wherein bovine lactoferrin was rubbed into the gums of patients with periodontitis.  Fluid extracted from the inflamed areas showed a lowering of inflammatory signals.  Patients experienced a noticeable reduction in edema, bleeding, pocket depth, gingival and plaque index.  The authors concluded, “Even if other clinical trials are required, these results provide strong evidence for a role of bovine lactoferrin in curing periodontitis, thus extending the therapeutic potential of this multifunctional natural protein.”

While periodontal problems can occur in anyone, they are common in people who are overweight due to the reduction in natural lactoferrin from the stress of excess body fat.  I previously reported on an eight week clinical trial in overweight individuals demonstrating that 300 mg per day of bovine lactoferrin helped them lose their abdominal fat (the most inflammatory kind of fat). 

Whether you rub it directly into your gums or take it orally, bovine lactoferrin is one nutrient that can help three typically co-occurring issues:  bone wear and tear, periodontal problems, and sluggish metabolism.  On top of that, bovine lactoferrin is one of the best studied natural immune support compounds available.