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Colostrum

Principal Proposed Uses
  • Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diarrhea

Other Proposed Uses
  • Lichen Planus; Sjogren’s Syndrome; Sore Throat and other Upper Respiratory Infections; Sports Supplement; Ulcer Prevention

Colostrum is the fluid that new mothers' breasts produce during the first day or two after birth. It gives newborn infants a rich mixture of antibodies and growth factors that help them get a good start. 

Most commercial colostrum preparations come from cows, not humans. The antibodies a mother cow gives to her calf are designed to fend off bacteria that are dangerous to cows; these may be very different from those that pose risks to humans.

Requirements/Sources
Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to nourish a newborn, and a mother's colostrum is undoubtedly good for a baby. Don't believe claims that most babies would die without colostrum.  Colostrum is good for health, but it's not essential for life.

Therapeutic Dosages
The usual recommended dosage of colostrum is 10 grams daily. In studies of colostrum as a sports supplement for athletes, the much higher dose of 60 g a day was used.

Therapeutic Uses
Many, but not all, studies have found hyperimmune colostrum might be able to help prevent or treat various forms of infectious diarrhea.

Colostrum has also shown some promise as a sports supplement, presumably because it contains growth factors, but study results are inconsistent.

Weak evidence suggests that oral hygiene products containing ordinary colostrum might have beneficial effects in a disease of the mouth called lichen planus, as well as in the condition known as Sjogren’s syndrome.   One study found that colostrinin, a substance extracted from colostrum, might be helpful for Alzheimer's disease.

Ordinary colostrum has been suggested as a treatment for short bowel syndrome (a condition following digestive tract surgery), chemotherapy-induced mouth ulcers, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), but as yet there is no real evidence that it is effective.

A study cited by some colostrum manufacturers as showing that colostrum can prevent or treat  colds was too preliminary to do more than hint at benefits.  A placebo-controlled study of adults failed to find colostrum helpful for shortening the duration of sore throat.

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Colostrum?

Infectious Diarrhea
Preliminary evidence suggests that hyperimmune colostrum might help prevent or possibly treat infectious diarrhea

Other studies suggest that hyperimmune colostrum might help prevent infection with shigella, as well as E. coli.  However, studies have not found it effective for treating shigella or E. coli diarrhea.  A study of children infected with Helicobacter pylori found no benefits with hyperimmune colostrum.

Sports Performance
Colostrum contains the growth factor IGF-1, which may help build muscle, and on this basis colostrum has been proposed as a sports supplement. However, results are conflicting on whether it really works.

In a placebo-controlled study, use of colostrum over an 8-week training period did not improve performance on an exercise-to-exhaustion test; however, it did improve performance on a repeat bout 20 minutes later.  Suggesting potential benefits for enhancing recovery of energy following heavy exercise.

Another blind study found that use of colostrum enhanced sprinting performance but not endurance exercise in elite hockey players.  Previous double-blind studies found improvements in rowing performance and vertical jump.

A study found that colostrum, as compared to whey protein, increased lean mass in healthy men and women undergoing aerobic and resistance training. However, no improvements in performance were seen in this trial.  Interestingly, it appears the IGF-1 in colostrum is not directly absorbed into the body.

Safety Issues
Colostrum does not seem to cause any significant side effects. However, comprehensive safety studies have not been performed. Safety in young children or women who are pregnant or nursing has not been established.

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Aside from the fact that you'd probably call me crazy, I have to tell you that we have never been as close as we are today to actually being able to extend human life!

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