Q: I’m a 46-year-old female. I read your column and love your natural and home remedies. So many times I think the symptoms people relate to you could be helped if they used colostrum – internally or externally. What is your opinion of colostrum? I use it daily and have not had a sick day in over 11 years. I have cured eczema on my hand with colostrum and seasonal allergies with colostrum powder. The list goes on and on. It’s an amazing food.
A: Colostrum a/k/a first milk is a type of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals (including humans) during late pregnancy. It contains antibodies that are believed to protect a newborn against disease because it is lower in fat and higher in protein than is ordinary milk. It is rich in vitamin A and sodium chloride but contains lower amounts of lipids, carbohydrates and potassium than mature milk.
The original interest in bovine colostrum was because of the high antibody levels, causing people to think those antibodies might prevent intestinal infections in humans. That belief was incorrect; however, the product is marketed today to purportedly boost the immune system, heal injuries, improve mood and a person’s sense of well being, reversing the ravages of aging, and as an agent for arresting fungus and bacteria. The belief that colostrum consumption is of benefit to human adults remains questionable, since most components undergo digestion in the mature stomach, including antibodies and all other proteins.
Researchers have created a special type of bovine colostrum produced by cows that have been vaccinated against E. coli. In fact, hyper-immune bone colostrum has been used in clinical trials treating rotavirus in children, AIDs related diarrhea, and for several other conditions. The FDA has granted hyper-immune bone colostrum what is referred to as an orphan drug status, allowing drug makers who invest in the development of treatments for rare conditions to enjoy special market advantages, such as permission to sell the drug without competition for seven years. Were such special incentives not in place, pharmaceutical companies might not develop drugs for rare conditions because the potential market is so small.
According to drugs.com, bovine colostrum has been used to treat diarrhea, improve gastrointestinal health and to boost the immune system. Contraindications have not yet been identified. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Interactions are not well document. There are no indications of toxicities. The product is well-tolerated. The few symptoms that may present include mild nausea and flatulence. They go on to add that more clinical trials need to be performed to understand and define fully the many benefits of bovine colostrums.
Examine.com indicates the majority of studies fail to find any significant influence of colostrum on body weight; studies assessing the effects in athletes subject to cardiovascular training have failed to find any difference between colostrum and whey product; fat oxidation rates or glucose expenditure no different than with any other protein sources such as whey; heart rate during exercise is not modified with dietary supplementation of colostrum; aerobic exercise is similar to whey protein (not much benefit); even in cases where traveler’s diarrhea (from E. coli) is successfully treated, the overall amount of bacteria found in the stool is not modified, suggesting no actual antibacterial.
While my jury is out, I can only indicate I am pleased you have been healthy for the past 11 years. And if you attribute it to taking colostrum supplements, then it certainly might have a bearing on your good heath. Keep up the good work and thank you for writing.
